American Power Act (PHOTOS): The Key Points

John Kerry and Joe Lieberman are rolling out the much-anticipated details of their climate bill, now called the American Power Act, this afternoon. Here's a rundown of some of the key details outlined in the act, which emerged earlier today. The bill addresses everything from clean vehicles and nuclear power to greenhouse gas emissions and manufacturing-- what do you think is the most worthwhile investment for America?

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Offshore Drilling

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States would be allowed to opt out of offshore drilling up to 75 miles from their coast. Currently, drilling can occur three miles off the shore. It also allows neighboring states to veto offshore drilling plans if it could have potential negative impacts on them.
In a reversal of current policy, states that do allow offshore drilling will receive 37.5 percent of revenues "to help protect their coastlines and coastal ecosystems." An additional 12.5 percent is allocated for federal and state programs under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

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States would be allowed to opt out of offshore drilling up to 75 miles from their coast. Currently, drilling can occur three miles off the shore. It also allows neighboring states to veto offshore drilling plans if it could have potential negative impacts on them.

In a reversal of current policy, states that do allow offshore drilling will receive 37.5 percent of revenues "to help protect their coastlines and coastal ecosystems." An additional 12.5 percent is allocated for federal and state programs under the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

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Comments

[Chazmania]

03:44 PM on 06/02/2010

I hope i am still hear to witness when time and old age finally rid the planet of Joe LIEberman.

[lifepanels]

11:11 PM on 06/17/2010

Me too! I don't ever in my life remember holding such contempt for one man as much as I have Joe Lieberman.

[ibsteve2u]

09:52 PM on 05/20/2010

It is a start...I particular like/wish further strengthened the attempt to account for the tendency of our manufacturers (and now those of other nations) to take advantage of lax and non-existent environmental laws in other nations.

The Deepwater Horizon is the glaring corporate malfeasance of the moment, but the chemicals and compounds being released at ever higher rates in waste streams in places like China, Vietnam, India...that is a less visible problem.

Our corporations repeatedly demonstrate that they will evade any safety measure that costs money no matter how serious the possible consequence. You see what BP et al do within spitting distance of our shores; would you imagine that our multinationals are better behaved even further removed from our vision? It would be foolish and naive to believe that they self-limit the kinds and tonnage of toxins and chemicals they're releasing halfway around the world in nations where they can openly buy influence; in nations where the value of the individual is nothing.

Who knows what compounds will be created when those growing streams of pollution mingle and are subjected to the subtle-to-extreme forces of nature? Death is a far easier thing to bring about than life - and there are those who theorize that all life began through accidental chemistry.

Any legislation that begins the process of enforcing responsibility everywhere is good - even if it slows the rate of wealth accumulation of those who seek only to die as the wealthiest.

[my3bucks]

06:00 PM on 05/20/2010

We need a MUCH stronger, bolder policy change than this weak proposal, and now is the time! Tell everyone you know to send a message to Obama via this link...https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1861&s_src=socmedcb&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=climatebill#

Spread the word! And feel free to use this shorter, stronger language instead of the template:

Dear President Obama,

You have the incredible opportunity to act with clear vision to leverage this disaster, NOW, to point our country away from oil dependence, toward a clean energy future, once and for all. Please, put politics and your desire to please conservatives... See More aside - we voted for YOU to lead us, not them! Use your power and your unique place in history to transform our energy systems with strong incentives and legislation, create millions of new green jobs and economic opportunities, and eliminate all risk of future oil spills, wars, and other evils of carbon-based energy.

[Ithinkformyself2]

10:00 PM on 06/25/2010

Is this post serious? I don’t want to seem condescending however if you are going to go so far as to write to the president (email, petition what have you) have the decency to write it yourself this is such a load of unicorns and rainbows. “Create millions of green jobs and prevent war.” People we cannot put all the power in the hands of a few men in power you cant just plead with your lawmakers to solve all your problems, educate yourself and put yourself into the lawmaking process at whatever level you can!

[MstrBlstr]

01:35 PM on 05/14/2010

"American Power Act" ??? That's what they changed the name of Cap & Trade to ??? Here's a little education on Cap & Trade now called "American Power Act". Obama sits on the board of the Joyce Foundation that issued grants to create the "Chicago Carbon Exchange" heavily invested in by Goldman Sachs, Al Gore and G.E. After Cap & sorry, "American Power Act" is shoved down our throats the CCX will reap hundreds of billions in profits they will funnel into a place called "Emerald Cities" owned by SEIU, AFL-CIO and other unions who will in turn forward billions to ACORN and "Other" community organizers. Even Joel Rogers admits Cap & Trade has NOTHING to do with climate and EVERYTHING to do with the re-distribution of wealth on a scale "Unprecedented" than ever imagined before. Anyone still think this isn't the largest scam in human history ????

[lmab]

10:17 AM on 05/14/2010

Anything with Joe the Weasel involved can't be a good thing.

[fullyfundhpf]

02:46 PM on 05/13/2010

One of the things that is missing from the American Power Act is the Historic Preservation Fund, which is the much smaller sister fund to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The much smaller HPF complements the goals of the LWCF, promoting environmental, economic and cultural sustainability through investment in existing infrastructure, neighborhood and community revitalization. While the LWCF is largely a land acquisition fund, which requires federal investment in management and maintenance in perpetuity, the HPF works within the community to encourage private investment. Just one program supported by the HPF, the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, has been credited with creating 1.8 million jobs. Historic preservation programs, as supported by the HPF, encourage smart growth, promote land and water conservation measures, reinvest in older communities and offer a means to capitalize on embodied energy and carbon in existing buildings and on existing infrastructure. Reusing buildings reduces energy use and carbon emitted through building teardown and construction, and historic buildings can meet or exceed today's highest energy efficiency standards through simple installation of "green" technologies. In fact, buildings built before 1920 are MORE energy efficient than any building built between 1920 and 2000.

If we are to achieve energy efficiency, historic preservation MUST be part of the equation.

[knight7se7en]

11:49 AM on 05/13/2010

Maybe I'm living in the twilight zone right now, but does anybody else find it somewhat antithetical that one part of this seemingly "green" act calls for taxpayer subsidies to go towards offshore drilling?

[Mark Romero]

09:41 PM on 05/16/2010

How can we trust an enviornmental bill that promotes nuclear energy? IT seems to me that these players are an integral part of the old way of doing things. They are looking to cement their futures during a time we need to focus on new technologies.

[roudy]

09:32 AM on 05/13/2010

If joes for it, I'm agin it. Do not trust that man one bit.

[Austintatious]

08:05 AM on 05/13/2010

I see that there are provisions for grants to educational programs for so called alternative energy sources, but I don't see anything specific that is intended to develop, construct and/or market large scale alternative energy projects.

There's help for the coal and nuclear industries, but where's the motivation/incentivation for big wind and solar projects? Did I miss it?

[GHO]

09:45 AM on 05/13/2010

We can't require wind and solar projects. If we did, faux environmentalists like Feinstein and the late Ted Kennedy would have to actually allow them to be built instead of blocking them because he yachts there.

[Periwinkle]

07:55 AM on 05/13/2010

I'm mad as I can be about this bill. While it's nice states are allowed to opt out of offshore drilling off their coastlines, it's completely and totally obscene there are taxpayer subsidies for big oil to encourage offshore drilling. TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL! As Rachel Madow pointed out on her show last night, the actual oil belongs to us and we should be getting a per gallon cut on whatever is extracted. Forget the TAXPAYER SUBSIDY!

[CabinGuy]

07:46 AM on 05/13/2010

How much does Al Gore make on this bill?
Will he buy a third mansion and an even bigger yacht?

[Lefty08]

09:04 AM on 05/13/2010

Another inane comment by a total ignorant goober.

[ilovethemondays]

04:07 PM on 05/14/2010

Lefty08~

I believe you are the goober.

Do some research on Generation Investment Management, Mr. Gore co-founded it along with former Goldman-Sachs CEO David Blood...Starting to see any connections yet?

[CabinGuy]

07:40 AM on 05/13/2010

Cap and Tax
Obamacare
VAT
9.9% unemployment

GOP SWEEPS HOUSE AND SENATE. OBAMA BECOMES 1 TERM PREZ LIKE CARTER

[Belisarius]

05:51 AM on 05/13/2010

Even France rejected cap and trade.

[CabinGuy]

07:38 AM on 05/13/2010

In favor of nuclear energy

[RomeoMD25]

05:25 AM on 05/13/2010

What do you think? Will Goldman Sachs and other banks involved in carbon offset trade (they already have an OTC future market set up for this) be able
to impose this global tax, even if AGW has been proved to be a fraud?.

[OzarkAggie]

05:01 AM on 05/13/2010

The only way to achieve "Clean Coal" is by using a closed system, aka pyrolysis, in which the byproducts can be filtered and thus truly captured. Two problems: First, every plant would have to be retrofitted at a substantial cost; Second, a closed system by it's nature does not lend itself to continuous feed, that is to say it works best as a batch process.

Full spectrum solar is emerging but years away from production, yet we should be funding the technology like it was the Manhattan Project - and we are not.

Cap and Trade is nonsense. It's just a synthetic market that can be manipulated and it will be.

While it seems like a good thing to subsidize low income people I don't see that as a solution when so many live in housing that is anything but energy efficient. Rather tax credits we should give tax deductions for improvements made by landlords, subsidize home owners, and reverse tax manufacturers of heating, cooling, and hot water equipment so that inefficient appliances are uneconomical.

[rufinator]

05:17 AM on 05/13/2010

Actually I like those little water heaters that heat the water instantly but I get your drift and I like your approach.

[einzelgaenger]

07:18 AM on 05/13/2010

Cap and Trade is nonsense, I agree wholeheartedly. But it seems like this thing would have an actual carbon tax, which is actually much more fair.

With respect to the subsidies vs. tax deductions, etc. I agree with the landlord tax deduction, but for less-well-to-do homeowners the question is one of raising the capital to make the initial investment, for which i think the solution/approach should be one of financing that initial investment.

Overall the President needs to set a much more ambitious vision for people to get behind, something that actually allows everyone to imagine what that place in the future looks like.
Otherwise these Senators are just going to do what's best... compromise.