House Democrats Close to a Deal on Clean Energy Bill

On Wednesday, before President Obama answered reporters' questions about his new health care plans, he took a moment to praise House Democrats "who've made such extraordinary progress in reaching a deal on comprehensive energy reform and climate legislation."

I echo Obama's praise. He was referring to the fact that Rep Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is close to a deal on a draft bill that move America to a clean energy future, create millions of jobs and whole new industries in America, and reduce global warming pollution.

The past few weeks of negotiations have been tough, but Waxman has addressed the concerns of key legislators on how to craft a bill that the 59-member committee can approve.

Judging from what Waxman said on Tuesday night, several key issues have been agreed among Committee Democrats, and Waxman is confident the bill will pass out of Committee next week and head to the House floor for a vote.

The working draft now:

• Creates a cap on carbon emissions--requiring a 17 percent reduction in the pollution that causes global warming by 2020, and 80 by 2050
• Sets a timeline for implementing carbon-capture-and storage technology for new coal plants
• Calls on all states to generate 15 percent of their electricity demand from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020 and to reduce energy use by 5 percent by 2020 by improving energy efficiency
• Establishes a system for distributing allowances to release carbon pollution that includes a mix of auctions and free allocations designed to benefit consumers and the competitiveness of U.S. industries

Although the bill contains compromises, the legislative process is by its nature one comprised of multiple interests. The top priority for NRDC remains setting firm limits on carbon pollution that will unleash energy investments that take us down a cleaner energy pathway. This bill will get us moving in that direction.

It also sends a message that the world has been waiting to hear. In the past few months, I have met with various international leaders, from Minister Xie Zhenhua, the lead climate negotiator for China, to Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister of the environment. Each one of them has asked me if Congress is serious about addressing climate change.

After years of delay due to big oil and other special interests, Congress is finally moving forward and fulfilling President Obama's vision of America's clean energy future. Now let's get this through the committee and to the floor. More work lies ahead.

Comments

[linaya]

This bill has already been watered down and compromised. A far better bill would simply tax emissions and return the dividends from the tax to the people. After all the original purpose of this was to reduce emissions from CO2 so human civilization survives, it wasn't to serve the energy masters or make people wealthy. Does Congress know what climate change even IS?

A better bill would be Larsen's cap and divdend (HR 1337) or Van Hollen's Cap and Dividend Act of 2009 HR 1862
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1862/show

Much, much simpler and more effective bills. ACES tries to do way too much.

We also need to start developing safer nuclear power. CCS and clean coal are never gonna happen.

[quidam56]

How about a deal or a draft to END MOUNTAINTOP REMOVAL !?

http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[olmossy]

Amen !

[jacobomorales]

By the way, 15 to 20 yrs to get a reactor on line. One month to get a wind turbine and or photovoltaic panel. Which is more cost effective in any level you look at?

[jacobomorales]

I hope Obama and the Democrats have the strength to do it and do not cave in to the oil/coal/gas industry and republican fear mongering.

[sc300nc]

One step closer to a new tax, one that will burden those that Mr. Obama has said he would not. When the price of everything starts going up because of this scam, when your energy costs go up 25%, remember who pushed this on us.

[olmossy]

Did you think cleaning up our act, much less cleaning up the stupitity and ignorance of the last century was going to be cheap?
Be angry at the Coal and Oil companies and Industry who have acted like there was no tommorow. New technology could have been developed years ago , if not for their greed.
The first 10 years of my life were spent with no electricity, no running water, no inside plumbing.
Take my word for it , We can all get by on a lot less energy. A lot of people in the world allready are.
Time to toughen UP!

[konst]

Please don't bankrupt and doom the US by requiring on all states to generate their electricity from wind and solar. The only way out of the energy dilema is with these clean LiFTR reactors

http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/02/aim-high-plan-for-factory-mass-produced.html

http://rethinkingnuclearpower.googlepages.com/aimhigh