Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., offered the possibility of adding CO2 emissions limits to whatever energy legislation the Senate might pass when the House and Senate bills were reconciled in conference, E&E News PM reported. Waxman was quoted as saying: "The Senate will have to get its act together and, I hope, pass an energy bill. Then we'll talk to them and figure out what the final product would be."
Wrote E&E News PM: "Some cap-and-trade advocates see a House-Senate conference as the last remaining possibility this year for legislating greenhouse gas emission limits. But that approach is still seen as a long shot."
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said climate and energy legislation would probably not be considered during the lame duck session after the November elections. McCain was quoted as saying: "No Republican would support such a thing when we make significant gains in both House and Senate. If I had my way, and I think our leadership agrees to a large degree, we would make sure that the government continues to function and then take up all these issues in the new Congress."
Showing posts with label Senate bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senate bill. Show all posts
Monday, August 2, 2010
Journal, Post Examine Failure of Kerry-Lieberman GHG Bill
The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, in editorials published today, focused on climate legislation. The Journal said the failure of the Senate to pass the Kerry-Lieberman legislation marked a "landmark defeat" for the green lobby and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. According to the Journal, the "bill went down for lack of Democratic votes, in particular those from Midwest coal and manufacturing states. Voters in those states have figured out that cap and tax is a redistributionist exercise from the carbon-dependent heartland to the richer coasts."
The Journal said cap and trade, at "enormous economic cost, would do little to reduce global carbon emissions. To the extent that it reduces growth, it would make the world less able to cope with the consequences if temperatures do rise. The richer the world, the more resources the world will have to adapt and ameliorate bad effects."
The Washington Post found irony in the "death of climate change legislation" because of the two government reports released shortly after Reid opted not to submit Kerry-Lieberman to a vote. The studies "underscore the overwhelming scientific case for global warming--and go out of the way to repudiate skeptics." After mentioning details from the reports, the Post said that many "climate-change skeptics will simply dismiss these reports as more evidence of a sprawling conspiracy instead of what they really are: yet more affirmation of the risks humanity runs if it continues to pump carbon into the atmosphere."
The Journal said cap and trade, at "enormous economic cost, would do little to reduce global carbon emissions. To the extent that it reduces growth, it would make the world less able to cope with the consequences if temperatures do rise. The richer the world, the more resources the world will have to adapt and ameliorate bad effects."
The Washington Post found irony in the "death of climate change legislation" because of the two government reports released shortly after Reid opted not to submit Kerry-Lieberman to a vote. The studies "underscore the overwhelming scientific case for global warming--and go out of the way to repudiate skeptics." After mentioning details from the reports, the Post said that many "climate-change skeptics will simply dismiss these reports as more evidence of a sprawling conspiracy instead of what they really are: yet more affirmation of the risks humanity runs if it continues to pump carbon into the atmosphere."
Friday, July 30, 2010
Businessweek Columnist Examines Congressional Inaction on Climate
In a Businessweek column, Eric Pooley, deputy editor of Bloomberg Businessweek and author of "The Climate War: True Believers, Power Brokers, and the Fight to Save the Earth," writes that the Senate inactivity on climate and energy issues "cedes" the U.S. energy race to China. Pooley calls a cap on carbon emissions from the electric power sector and a national renewable electricity standard the two "most powerful clean energy provisions" that have been debated and which should be in legislation this year.
Wrote Pooley: "For years, business leaders from General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt to venture capitalist John Doerr have warned that if America failed to pass a comprehensive climate-and-energy bill, the country risked losing the clean energy race to China -- sacrificing the jobs of the future in a timid, ill-fated effort to preserve the jobs of the past. Now those warnings are coming true."
While the stalemate on the carbon cap was likely a partisan discourse, Pooley states: "The disappearance of the renewable energy standard, however, was a shock. Both the House and Senate have passed RES bills in the past, yet it has never become law. With elections looming, this may be the last chance for years to set the rules of the road for energy investment."
Pooley noted that utility CEOs such as Lew Hay of Next-Era Energy, Ralph Izzo of PSEG, and Jim Rogers of Duke Energy "have all said they are ready to invest in clean energy just as soon as Congress establishes a carbon cap that creates a clear, steady price signal for dirty fuel--in effect, pricing in some of the social costs of carbon pollution that have never been part of America's energy bill."
Lacking a better idea, Pooley wrote that there are a variety of alternative steps that Congress could take, based on trial balloons that have been floated: "One such idea is a Green Bank that would leverage Treasury Department money for low-interest loans to projects that can’t attract conventional financing because their path to profitability is too long." Kenneth Berlin, a Green Bank proponent and cap-and-trade supporter who heads the environmental practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, was quoted as saying: "I don’t know if it really amounts to a Plan B; It's more like Plan D, but it would be far, far better than nothing."
Wrote Pooley: "For years, business leaders from General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jeff Immelt to venture capitalist John Doerr have warned that if America failed to pass a comprehensive climate-and-energy bill, the country risked losing the clean energy race to China -- sacrificing the jobs of the future in a timid, ill-fated effort to preserve the jobs of the past. Now those warnings are coming true."
While the stalemate on the carbon cap was likely a partisan discourse, Pooley states: "The disappearance of the renewable energy standard, however, was a shock. Both the House and Senate have passed RES bills in the past, yet it has never become law. With elections looming, this may be the last chance for years to set the rules of the road for energy investment."
Pooley noted that utility CEOs such as Lew Hay of Next-Era Energy, Ralph Izzo of PSEG, and Jim Rogers of Duke Energy "have all said they are ready to invest in clean energy just as soon as Congress establishes a carbon cap that creates a clear, steady price signal for dirty fuel--in effect, pricing in some of the social costs of carbon pollution that have never been part of America's energy bill."
Lacking a better idea, Pooley wrote that there are a variety of alternative steps that Congress could take, based on trial balloons that have been floated: "One such idea is a Green Bank that would leverage Treasury Department money for low-interest loans to projects that can’t attract conventional financing because their path to profitability is too long." Kenneth Berlin, a Green Bank proponent and cap-and-trade supporter who heads the environmental practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, was quoted as saying: "I don’t know if it really amounts to a Plan B; It's more like Plan D, but it would be far, far better than nothing."
The Economist: GHG Emissions Caps Could Fall to EPA, States
According to The Economist, the energy legislation currently before the Senate shows that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., "having earlier abandoned as hopeless an effort to limit America's emissions of greenhouse gases through a 'cap-and-trade' scheme, is proposing nothing more substantial than subsidies for home insulation and trucks that run on natural gas."
Republicans' opposition to cap and trade, which they have called an energy tax, derives from the correct conclusion that energy bills would go up if a price were put on carbon, The Economist wrote. Their opposition could be even stronger after the November elections. Coal-state Democrats remain unenthusiastic, the American public appears to be losing interest, and President Barack Obama's involvement has been detached, despite his campaign statements and his work at the United Nations climate talks last year in Copenhagen.
Nonetheless, the administration has opened other paths: Should legislation fail, EPA has indicated its intent to regulate GHGs. Federal agencies have discretionary power to set fuel-efficiency and appliance-efficiency standards. And states could continue setting their own standards. Nicholas Bianco and Franz Litz of the World Resources Institute estimated that emissions could be cut 13 percent by 2020 using just existing state and federal laws.
But piecemeal regulations would leave confusion and uncertainty. "That may leave big energy firms regretting their opposition to cap and trade. As one old utility hand puts it, 'There's a sense of ruefulness in the industry.' It is widely shared," wrote The Economist.
Republicans' opposition to cap and trade, which they have called an energy tax, derives from the correct conclusion that energy bills would go up if a price were put on carbon, The Economist wrote. Their opposition could be even stronger after the November elections. Coal-state Democrats remain unenthusiastic, the American public appears to be losing interest, and President Barack Obama's involvement has been detached, despite his campaign statements and his work at the United Nations climate talks last year in Copenhagen.
Nonetheless, the administration has opened other paths: Should legislation fail, EPA has indicated its intent to regulate GHGs. Federal agencies have discretionary power to set fuel-efficiency and appliance-efficiency standards. And states could continue setting their own standards. Nicholas Bianco and Franz Litz of the World Resources Institute estimated that emissions could be cut 13 percent by 2020 using just existing state and federal laws.
But piecemeal regulations would leave confusion and uncertainty. "That may leave big energy firms regretting their opposition to cap and trade. As one old utility hand puts it, 'There's a sense of ruefulness in the industry.' It is widely shared," wrote The Economist.
Atlantic Examines How Climate Legislation Failed in Senate
Several critical mistakes helped kill climate change legislation in the Senate, wrote Atlantic blogger Brian Goldsmith. According to Daniel Lashof, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Climate Center, one element was losing control of the message after climate change legislation passed the House: "Democrats were not prepared, and we [in the environmental community] didn't do enough to explain, why this was good policy."
A second reason was a less than forceful response to Climategate. Senate leaders--and President Obama--had other issues on their mind. Environmental Defense's Tony Kreindler was quoted as saying: "It should be self-evident we haven't seen the level of engagement by the president necessary to seal the deal."
Losing the support of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was devastating. Kreindler said that a lack of support outside the Senate played a part: "We were close with the utilities, not with the manufacturers ... these agreements are important not because of special interest politics and the influence of big money but because having everyone at the table helps make policies that are durable and effective."
If an energy package fails to pass before the August recess, said Goldsmith, senators could try to pass a utility-specific CO2 cap in September, they could go for a comprehensive bill in the lame-duck session after the November elections, or they could wait until the next Congress and attempt to get a carbon cap through.
For now, said Goldsmith, the legislation put forward by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has the support of most environmental leaders. He said the legislation would not "take off the table incentives to approve cap-and-trade at a later date--given that none of the pollution credits and industry subsidies in Waxman-Markey carried over to the Reid bill."
A second reason was a less than forceful response to Climategate. Senate leaders--and President Obama--had other issues on their mind. Environmental Defense's Tony Kreindler was quoted as saying: "It should be self-evident we haven't seen the level of engagement by the president necessary to seal the deal."
Losing the support of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was devastating. Kreindler said that a lack of support outside the Senate played a part: "We were close with the utilities, not with the manufacturers ... these agreements are important not because of special interest politics and the influence of big money but because having everyone at the table helps make policies that are durable and effective."
If an energy package fails to pass before the August recess, said Goldsmith, senators could try to pass a utility-specific CO2 cap in September, they could go for a comprehensive bill in the lame-duck session after the November elections, or they could wait until the next Congress and attempt to get a carbon cap through.
For now, said Goldsmith, the legislation put forward by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has the support of most environmental leaders. He said the legislation would not "take off the table incentives to approve cap-and-trade at a later date--given that none of the pollution credits and industry subsidies in Waxman-Markey carried over to the Reid bill."
Inquirer Says GOP Successfully Blocked Passage of Climate Bill
The Philadelphia Inquirer, in an editorial published today, said the Senate "wilted" on climate change issues as Senate Republicans "successfully blocked passage of any significant climate-change legislation" this year." While the Inquirer noted that the bill had its faults, proponents sought to have it "stuffed with goodies" to mitigate the impact on the fossil-fuel industries. "But," the Inquirer said, "the biggest piece of candy turned rancid" and efforts were made to curtail offshore energy exploration in the aftermath of the oil rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wrote the Inquirer: "Senate Democrats are pushing a more modest climate bill defining BP's liability for the spill and tightening energy-efficiency standards. Missing will be the controversial plan to reduce carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade program. The House narrowly passed cap-and-trade in June, with eight Republicans voting for it. But the Senate never voted on its bill, which means House Republicans who voted yes have nothing to show for braving to cross the aisle."
Wrote the Inquirer: "Senate Democrats are pushing a more modest climate bill defining BP's liability for the spill and tightening energy-efficiency standards. Missing will be the controversial plan to reduce carbon emissions through a cap-and-trade program. The House narrowly passed cap-and-trade in June, with eight Republicans voting for it. But the Senate never voted on its bill, which means House Republicans who voted yes have nothing to show for braving to cross the aisle."
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Sen. Reid Introduces Energy Bill Without Climate Provisions
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has introduced energy legislation that included oil spill liability provisions and $5 billion for the Home Star energy-efficiency program but failed to propose any climate change policies, Reuters reported.
Reid acknowledged that "this bill does not address every issue of importance to our nation's energy challenges, and we have to continue to work to find bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive bill to help reduce pollution and deal with the very real threat that global warming poses."
An informal Time magazine poll of Senate staffers found a majority did not expect the Senate to pass the bill before the August recess. Utilities and environmentalists continued work on principles for utility-only GHG emissions limits, with Duke Energy, Exelon and Dominion Resources taking part in a working group for negotiations, ClimateWire reported. Exelon Senior VP David Brown said the group was "focused on getting something done this year" and will continue working for climate change legislation. Brown predicted that after 2010, "the politics probably don't improve" on the issue, and yet "the urgency to get some clarity for the utility industry only increases."
President Obama was quoted as saying of Reid's bill: "I want to emphasize it's only the first step and I intend to keep pushing for broader reform, including climate legislation."
- Related stories appeared in the Dallas Morning News, Associated Press, and Los Angeles Times.
Reid acknowledged that "this bill does not address every issue of importance to our nation's energy challenges, and we have to continue to work to find bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive bill to help reduce pollution and deal with the very real threat that global warming poses."
An informal Time magazine poll of Senate staffers found a majority did not expect the Senate to pass the bill before the August recess. Utilities and environmentalists continued work on principles for utility-only GHG emissions limits, with Duke Energy, Exelon and Dominion Resources taking part in a working group for negotiations, ClimateWire reported. Exelon Senior VP David Brown said the group was "focused on getting something done this year" and will continue working for climate change legislation. Brown predicted that after 2010, "the politics probably don't improve" on the issue, and yet "the urgency to get some clarity for the utility industry only increases."
President Obama was quoted as saying of Reid's bill: "I want to emphasize it's only the first step and I intend to keep pushing for broader reform, including climate legislation."
- Related stories appeared in the Dallas Morning News, Associated Press, and Los Angeles Times.
Blame Game Dominates Editorials About Energy Bills
Editorials on the Senate's failure to produce a comprehensive energy bill sought to pin the blame on both parties. The Dallas Morning News wrote today in an editorial: "Heaping blame on Republicans in this case is easy and reasonably justified. But Democrats managed to hammer a few of their own nails in the coffin of a comprehensive energy bill."
Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., "couldn't bring himself to put passing this legislation at the top of his to-do list." The five keys to a good energy bill, the Morning News wrote, included: a meaningful cap on GHGs that divides the costs between consumers and polluters; aggressive mandates for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar; a clear path for a new generation of nuclear power plants; requirements for automakers to increase fuel efficiency and improve emissions controls; and a road map for utilities to better develop a smart grid that reduces energy consumption.
The Bangor Daily News wrote today in an editorial that Reid was "more concerned about his re-election than legislation to reduce America’s dependence on oil from volatile and hostile parts of the world. Republicans are more interested in defeating Democratic ideas than providing businesses with a predictable energy future. The White House was content to let Democratic leaders craft and shepherd legislation through Congress to deal with energy and climate change and never got involved, even when it was clear that direction and support were needed."
However, the Salt Lake Tribune posed, in an editorial published today, a different point: "When are Republicans in Congress, particularly in the Senate, going to accept responsibility for failing to deal with climate change and its potentially devastating effects, a looming catastrophe caused primarily by the United States' gluttony for fossil fuels?"
The Charleston Post and Courier wrote in an editorial that America's "long-term energy prices are bound to soar even higher if we don't intensify our efforts to develop alternative energy and conserve fuel and electric power."
Senate Majority Harry Reid, D-Nev., "couldn't bring himself to put passing this legislation at the top of his to-do list." The five keys to a good energy bill, the Morning News wrote, included: a meaningful cap on GHGs that divides the costs between consumers and polluters; aggressive mandates for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar; a clear path for a new generation of nuclear power plants; requirements for automakers to increase fuel efficiency and improve emissions controls; and a road map for utilities to better develop a smart grid that reduces energy consumption.
The Bangor Daily News wrote today in an editorial that Reid was "more concerned about his re-election than legislation to reduce America’s dependence on oil from volatile and hostile parts of the world. Republicans are more interested in defeating Democratic ideas than providing businesses with a predictable energy future. The White House was content to let Democratic leaders craft and shepherd legislation through Congress to deal with energy and climate change and never got involved, even when it was clear that direction and support were needed."
However, the Salt Lake Tribune posed, in an editorial published today, a different point: "When are Republicans in Congress, particularly in the Senate, going to accept responsibility for failing to deal with climate change and its potentially devastating effects, a looming catastrophe caused primarily by the United States' gluttony for fossil fuels?"
The Charleston Post and Courier wrote in an editorial that America's "long-term energy prices are bound to soar even higher if we don't intensify our efforts to develop alternative energy and conserve fuel and electric power."
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
President to Hold Bipartisan Meeting Today on Climate, Energy
The Wall Street Journal today reported that Congressional Democrats are looking to use a bipartisan meeting with President Obama on Tuesday to leverage a clear solution to energy and climate efforts on Capitol Hill.
Energy & Environment reported today that even if the Senate passed a watered-down version of climate and energy legislation before the mid-term elections, the House-Senate conference committee could end up revisiting everything, including a cap-and-trade program, during a subsequent lame duck session. Wrote the newsletter: "Even if they do not enact cap and trade, Democratic leaders could use a conference to ratchet up the climate regulations past what the Senate agreed to and beyond what Democratic House centrists want."
Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have expressed reservations about leaving so much work to the conferees. Sanders was quoted as saying: "Members of the Senate have their views as to what constitutes a strong bill, and they're going to want to be heard on this." The policies that could be radically revised during a conference, the newsletter reported, include oil spill liability, stricter drilling regulations, a renewable energy standard, sharing offshore drilling royalties with states, nuclear plant loan guarantees "and the big one -- a price on carbon."
A question that adds more uncertainty is what bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would bring to the Senate floor. One possibility is that he would add climate provisions to a legislative response to the oil spill on the assumption that the latter would have to pass or he could add the oil spill provisions to an energy-only bill. If Reid went with the latter strategy, it would present a problem for conservative Democrats who would rather vote on an energy bill after the elections, even though they might want to go home in November with a credible bill to stop future oils spills.
- Related story appeared in the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire.
Energy & Environment reported today that even if the Senate passed a watered-down version of climate and energy legislation before the mid-term elections, the House-Senate conference committee could end up revisiting everything, including a cap-and-trade program, during a subsequent lame duck session. Wrote the newsletter: "Even if they do not enact cap and trade, Democratic leaders could use a conference to ratchet up the climate regulations past what the Senate agreed to and beyond what Democratic House centrists want."
Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have expressed reservations about leaving so much work to the conferees. Sanders was quoted as saying: "Members of the Senate have their views as to what constitutes a strong bill, and they're going to want to be heard on this." The policies that could be radically revised during a conference, the newsletter reported, include oil spill liability, stricter drilling regulations, a renewable energy standard, sharing offshore drilling royalties with states, nuclear plant loan guarantees "and the big one -- a price on carbon."
A question that adds more uncertainty is what bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would bring to the Senate floor. One possibility is that he would add climate provisions to a legislative response to the oil spill on the assumption that the latter would have to pass or he could add the oil spill provisions to an energy-only bill. If Reid went with the latter strategy, it would present a problem for conservative Democrats who would rather vote on an energy bill after the elections, even though they might want to go home in November with a credible bill to stop future oils spills.
- Related story appeared in the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire.
Sen. Byrd's Death Could Complicate Senate Climate, Energy Battle
The death yesterday morning of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., could make Senate passage of climate and energy legislation more complicated, even though he was not necessarily going to vote for it, Greenwire reported. Wrote Greenwire: "Byrd's support for a Senate climate bill was far from certain since he had long questioned action to curb greenhouse gas emissions. But his recent actions had signaled that he may have endorsed a climate bill if it had come to the floor this year."
In 2009, Byrd urged the coal industry to participate in forging climate legislation and earlier this month he voted against a resolution put forward by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to prevent EPA from issuing GHG regulations. Daniel Weiss, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, was quoted as saying: "He's played a very constructive role in trying to build support for comprehensive clean energy and global warming legislation."
The appointment of Byrd's replacement falls to West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, an avowed opponent of cap-and-trade legislation. Manchin told the Associated Press that the appointment would be a significant because of the effect on climate legislation and the mining debate.
Greenwire quoted Andrew Wheeler, a former Republican staff director for the Environment and Public Works Committee, as saying: "Most West Virginia politicians oppose climate change legislation, so I don't think it's a stretch to assume that Senator Byrd's successor will also oppose climate change legislation." Byrd's death also leaves Democrats a vote short of being able to stop a Republican filibuster of financial reform legislation, Grist reported.
- Related stories also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
In 2009, Byrd urged the coal industry to participate in forging climate legislation and earlier this month he voted against a resolution put forward by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to prevent EPA from issuing GHG regulations. Daniel Weiss, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, was quoted as saying: "He's played a very constructive role in trying to build support for comprehensive clean energy and global warming legislation."
The appointment of Byrd's replacement falls to West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, an avowed opponent of cap-and-trade legislation. Manchin told the Associated Press that the appointment would be a significant because of the effect on climate legislation and the mining debate.
Greenwire quoted Andrew Wheeler, a former Republican staff director for the Environment and Public Works Committee, as saying: "Most West Virginia politicians oppose climate change legislation, so I don't think it's a stretch to assume that Senator Byrd's successor will also oppose climate change legislation." Byrd's death also leaves Democrats a vote short of being able to stop a Republican filibuster of financial reform legislation, Grist reported.
- Related stories also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Washington Post Finds Merit in Three Ways to Tackle GHG Emissions
The Washington Post, in an editorial published today on President Obama's planned meeting with senators about climate and energy legislation, said the most helpful thing they could do was "put a gradually rising price on the carbon emissions produced by the burning of fossil fuels. The best way to do this would be with a simple tax."
Second best, said the Post, would be cap and trade: "Some argue that it's more realistic for Democrats to press only for politically attractive things such as clean-energy mandates, efficiency standards, research and development funding and lots of energy subsidies. But that approach is expensive and almost certainly inadequate to meet even the underwhelming medium-term emissions targets Mr. Obama has set."
The Post suggested a third option, to include "those politically attractive measures, as well as GOP priorities such as generous provisions for nuclear power and some of the efficiency programs that Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) proposed in a bill he recently unveiled--but to add a cap on emissions from utilities," because setting a "price on carbon even in one economic sector might make it easier to establish a more effective cap in the future."
Second best, said the Post, would be cap and trade: "Some argue that it's more realistic for Democrats to press only for politically attractive things such as clean-energy mandates, efficiency standards, research and development funding and lots of energy subsidies. But that approach is expensive and almost certainly inadequate to meet even the underwhelming medium-term emissions targets Mr. Obama has set."
The Post suggested a third option, to include "those politically attractive measures, as well as GOP priorities such as generous provisions for nuclear power and some of the efficiency programs that Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) proposed in a bill he recently unveiled--but to add a cap on emissions from utilities," because setting a "price on carbon even in one economic sector might make it easier to establish a more effective cap in the future."
Sens. Lieberman, Kerry Inching Toward Utility-Only Climate Bill
Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., and John F. Kerry, D-Mass., said they may turn to utility-only GHG emissions limits in the effort to pass their climate change legislation, ClimateWire reported. Lieberman said the option was "not my first choice, but it's important that we get started in what we're trying to do." Kerry said the strategy might achieve the primary goal of "pricing carbon" by providing a solution to the challenge of obtaining a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. Democrats expressed some support for the strategy.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was quoted as saying: "I don't expect that we will get much Republican support for legislation beyond the energy bill." Bloomberg reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., emphasized the central role of the White House in helping "us get something done." Kerry said "the president is fully committed. He's fully engaged. He intends to try to move votes himself and he understands the seriousness of this effort."
EEI spokesman Jim Owen was quoted as saying of utility-only legislation: "We have been concentrating on economywide, so this is a game-changer with so many moving parts in the middle of a very fluid legislative situation overall."
- Related stories also appeared in CNN.com, Dow Jones Newswire, Financial Times, and Reuters.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., was quoted as saying: "I don't expect that we will get much Republican support for legislation beyond the energy bill." Bloomberg reported that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., emphasized the central role of the White House in helping "us get something done." Kerry said "the president is fully committed. He's fully engaged. He intends to try to move votes himself and he understands the seriousness of this effort."
EEI spokesman Jim Owen was quoted as saying of utility-only legislation: "We have been concentrating on economywide, so this is a game-changer with so many moving parts in the middle of a very fluid legislative situation overall."
- Related stories also appeared in CNN.com, Dow Jones Newswire, Financial Times, and Reuters.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Focus Increases on Utilities-Only Bill
In a lead-in to Wednesday's scheduled meeting between President Obama and a bipartisan group of senators on climate and energy legislation, Bloomberg Businessweek reported that the session was expected to focus on new ways to target GHG emissions from power plants. On legislation aimed far more broadly, Pew Center on Global Climate Change President Eileen Claussen was quoted as saying the "longer we keep batting around proposals that do not have much of a chance, the less likely we are to get something that does have a chance" approved before elections in November.
EEI spokesman Dan Riedinger said investor-owned utilities have yet to take a position on legislation aimed solely at power plants because they were concentrating on economy-wide cap-and-trade proposals. Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein wrote that a "utilities-only cap-and-trade program should be designed such that it can eventually become an economy-wide cap-and-trade program."
EEI spokesman Dan Riedinger said investor-owned utilities have yet to take a position on legislation aimed solely at power plants because they were concentrating on economy-wide cap-and-trade proposals. Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein wrote that a "utilities-only cap-and-trade program should be designed such that it can eventually become an economy-wide cap-and-trade program."
EEI's Kuhn Says Consumer Protection Vital for Climate Legislation
EEI President Tom Kuhn said in a National Journal opinion piece that climate change and energy legislation must include "strong consumer protection measures" in order to win support. Kuhn noted that the House-passed bill included provisions to allocate GHG emissions permits to utilities "to help mitigate electricity price increases," and that design "proved an important concept around which many lawmakers rallied."
Kuhn pointed to the House example as a sign of the need for senators to also focus on consumer protection. Kuhn asked President Obama and senators to put protection "among the issues that top the agenda" at their meeting to discuss the bill. He praised the Kerry-Lieberman bill for allocating additional emissions permits for utilities and adopting "a hard price collar" for permits. Kuhn said that EEI was continuing its effort "to develop workable legislation that will combat climate change while also safeguarding the nation’s continued economic well-being."
Kuhn pointed to the House example as a sign of the need for senators to also focus on consumer protection. Kuhn asked President Obama and senators to put protection "among the issues that top the agenda" at their meeting to discuss the bill. He praised the Kerry-Lieberman bill for allocating additional emissions permits for utilities and adopting "a hard price collar" for permits. Kuhn said that EEI was continuing its effort "to develop workable legislation that will combat climate change while also safeguarding the nation’s continued economic well-being."
L.A. Times Calls for Climate Leadership From President Obama
The Los Angeles Times, in an editorial published today, said polls on energy policy indicated Americans were concerned about the environment and they are seeking leadership on the issue from President Obama. The newspaper noted that Obama's speech last week on the BP oil rig accident "was expected to mark the start of a major White House push for legislation aimed at clean energy and climate change, but the second part of that package went down like a crude-coated pelican. Obama's failure to mention cap-and-trade, or any other scheme to price greenhouse-gas emissions, suggests he doesn't intend to pursue it."
The Times wrote that Obama was bowing to political reality: "He can count votes as well as anybody, and it's clear that the 60 votes needed to overcome a Senate filibuster on a climate bill just aren't there. Yet the president's habit of leading from the rear is in part responsible for that." The Times said the other message underlying recent polls was that Americans appeared to have few substantial ideas about combating climate change, but they knew it would cost them a great deal.
The Times wrote that Obama was bowing to political reality: "He can count votes as well as anybody, and it's clear that the 60 votes needed to overcome a Senate filibuster on a climate bill just aren't there. Yet the president's habit of leading from the rear is in part responsible for that." The Times said the other message underlying recent polls was that Americans appeared to have few substantial ideas about combating climate change, but they knew it would cost them a great deal.
Monday, June 21, 2010
President Obama to Discuss Utility-Only Climate Bill With Senators
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said President Obama will discuss the option of utility-only GHG emissions limits in his climate change legislation meeting with senators on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported. Emanuel said "a wide range of ideas will be discussed," and the concept of utility-only limits "will also be welcomed."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was expected to be invited to take part in the talks, along with Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and several others. Emanuel said Obama wanted to talk with "a wide range of people who have ideas" about the shape of the legislation. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said it will "be difficult to do in this climate," but added that "an energy-only bill is a great idea."
Brian Wolff, EEI's senior VP of external affairs, said EEI will discuss the utility-only option with its members, Politico reported. Wolff was quoted as saying: "We have not fully discussed utility-only since we have been working on a more comprehensive climate approach. However, we believe any utility-only energy and climate legislation would have to include major consumer protections to gain 60 votes in the Senate."
- Related story also appeared in the Washington Post via the Associated Press.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was expected to be invited to take part in the talks, along with Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and several others. Emanuel said Obama wanted to talk with "a wide range of people who have ideas" about the shape of the legislation. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said it will "be difficult to do in this climate," but added that "an energy-only bill is a great idea."
Brian Wolff, EEI's senior VP of external affairs, said EEI will discuss the utility-only option with its members, Politico reported. Wolff was quoted as saying: "We have not fully discussed utility-only since we have been working on a more comprehensive climate approach. However, we believe any utility-only energy and climate legislation would have to include major consumer protections to gain 60 votes in the Senate."
- Related story also appeared in the Washington Post via the Associated Press.
New York Times: Kerry-Lieberman Better Than Other Climate Bills
The New York Times, in an editorial published today, endorsed the Kerry-Lieberman climate bill, saying "there are other honorable bills out there that have much to recommend them but fall short because they do not include mandatory greenhouse gas reductions or a price signal" on carbon.
The editorial expressed disappointment that in his recent address on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, President Obama did not argue for a "broadly based, economy-wide cap-and-trade system," but instead "opened the door far too wide to alternative policies that aren’t real alternatives, and to more stalling."
The editorial expressed disappointment that in his recent address on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, President Obama did not argue for a "broadly based, economy-wide cap-and-trade system," but instead "opened the door far too wide to alternative policies that aren’t real alternatives, and to more stalling."
Friday, June 11, 2010
EPA Analysis of Kerry-Lieberman Bill Expected Monday
EPA plans to issue its economic modeling analysis of the Kerry-Lieberman climate change bill on Monday, E&E News PM reported. Agency spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said the shift from the originally planned release on Wednesday resulted from a final review of the analysis not being completed until this weekend. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., said the analysis will be "a very big moment in the Senate's consideration of energy and climate legislation."
Lieberman called the announcement "the most comprehensive, credible analysis of energy-climate legislation that's yet been done." He also expressed hopes that the study will show that the bill "will create millions of good new jobs." The Energy Information Administration was expected to issue its own analysis of the bill within several weeks.
Lieberman called the announcement "the most comprehensive, credible analysis of energy-climate legislation that's yet been done." He also expressed hopes that the study will show that the bill "will create millions of good new jobs." The Energy Information Administration was expected to issue its own analysis of the bill within several weeks.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Democrats Say No Firm Legislative Strategy Yet for Climate Proposal
Senate Democrats have backed away from comments in which Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he expected the Kerry-Lieberman climate change legislation to be submitted as an amendment to an energy bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., Environment and Energy Daily reported. Schumer spokesman Brian Fallon said Schumer had only "speculated on one procedural option" for the proposal, and knew of no final plans for the floor strategy for legislation "addressing the nation's urgent energy challenges."
Fallon said Schumer would join "discussions with the rest of the leadership later this week on how to best move forward." Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he preferred the plan outlined by Schumer. Whitney Smith, spokeswoman for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., was quoted as saying: "We believe we're right on track as the leadership devises the best process to ensure passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation and appreciate Senator Schumer's compliment of the work that's been done and the broad support we've secured."
Fallon said Schumer would join "discussions with the rest of the leadership later this week on how to best move forward." Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said he preferred the plan outlined by Schumer. Whitney Smith, spokeswoman for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., was quoted as saying: "We believe we're right on track as the leadership devises the best process to ensure passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation and appreciate Senator Schumer's compliment of the work that's been done and the broad support we've secured."
Thursday, June 3, 2010
EPA to Release Climate, Energy Bill Economic Modeling June 10
EPA is expected on June 10 to publicly release its economic modeling results on comprehensive energy and climate legislation, Greenwire reported. Republicans, said Greenwire, were expected to challenge the assumptions EPA used in the analysis of projected household costs and consumption rates resulting from cutting U.S. GHG emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Citing other studies on the proposed legislation, authors Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph Lieberman, ID-Conn., were quoted as saying: "Several nonpartisan studies and economic analyses have now concluded that the American Power Act achieves the goals we set: to strengthen energy security and address climate change. Our approach creates jobs, protects consumers and reduces our oil dependence."
Also on June 10, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to hold a climate legislation strategy meeting with key committee chairmen, and the Senate is scheduled to vote on a resolution offered by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, intended to prevent EPA from writing emissions rules for cars and industrial facilities.
Citing other studies on the proposed legislation, authors Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph Lieberman, ID-Conn., were quoted as saying: "Several nonpartisan studies and economic analyses have now concluded that the American Power Act achieves the goals we set: to strengthen energy security and address climate change. Our approach creates jobs, protects consumers and reduces our oil dependence."
Also on June 10, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to hold a climate legislation strategy meeting with key committee chairmen, and the Senate is scheduled to vote on a resolution offered by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, intended to prevent EPA from writing emissions rules for cars and industrial facilities.
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