National Climate Legislation
Work on federal climate legislation is proceeding on several fronts:
- ACEEE has coordinated a multi-organization effort to develop consensus recommendations on the role of energy efficiency in climate change legislation.
- House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman has pledged to report a bill out of his Committee by Memorial Day. Staff have begun discussions on bill specifics.
- Senate leadership has suggested they would like to report a bill out by summer. Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Barbara Boxer has suggested a simple bill, leaving most details to be worked out by EPA through a regulatory process.
- EPA is reviewing whether to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant, as ordered to do so by the Supreme Court but temporarily side-tracked by the Bush Administration. Most observers are saying it would be better for Congress to act, but having a credible threat that EPA might act would spur the Congressional process along.
At this point it is looking likely that the legislation will use a cap and trade approach and call for 80% reductions in emissions by 2050 relative to 1990 levels. Details are very much up in the air. While Committee leadership hopes for passage in 2009, there are many difficult political issues, particularly to get 60 votes in the Senate, and final action is more likely in 2010.
For more information contact:
Steven Nadel, Executive Director
Suzanne Watson, Policy Director
Top of Page
|
