Let's Put a Lid On Cap-and-Tax
The fact that the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill--officially known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES)--passed the U.S. House by a razor-thin margin proves that members of both parties have deep concerns about this legislation. And rightfully so. Although the U.S. Chamber supports comprehensive legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we believe that ACES is fundamentally flawed.
From the outset, the U.S. Chamber conditioned its support of any climate change bill on these fundamental principles: balancing environmental objectives with the need for economic growth and job creation, promoting technology development and deployment, investing in clean energy, promoting energy efficiency, and addressing climate change as a global challenge. ACES fails every one of these tests.
This bill does not address the international nature of climate change. For example, even if the United States completely eliminated carbon emissions, global levels would still rise because developing countries' emissions are rapidly growing. Increasing our domestic energy prices would put U.S. businesses at a disadvantage. In fact, many American jobs would likely be shipped overseas where energy is cheaper and environmental restrictions are more lax. Does anyone think this would be a good idea in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression?
Additionally, ACES would impose tariffs on products produced by other countries that don't impose similar curbs on greenhouse gas emissions. This would violate our international trade obligations and could incite a devastating trade war that would cripple American exporters.
Equally problematic is the impact that ACES would have on fuel prices. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost impact could be as much as $0.77 per gallon for gasoline, $0.83 per gallon for jet fuel, and $0.88 per gallon for diesel fuel--all ultimately borne by the consumer.
While cap-and-trade might successfully reduce our use of the carbon-based fuel sources that power our economy, it does very little to make up for it and provide the country with the energy we need to grow and thrive.
And what about the cost? A study released by the National Black Chamber of Commerce estimates annual drops in GDP of $170 billion in 2015, $350 billion in 2030, and $730 billion in 2050. The same study concludes that 2.5 million to 3 million jobs would be lost.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act is a flawed bill that requires substantial revision. A clean energy future and economic growth aren't incompatible, and we plan to work with the Senate to reconcile these two goals.
Follow Tom Donohue on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chamberpost
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Future cars can pay for themselves by becoming power plants when parked!
The continued use of fossil fuels increases the odds of catastrophic events.
Breakthroughs include the MagGen. These magnetic generators will initially make it possible to cut the cord on a plug-in hybrid so it no longer needs to plug-in. Later, they can replace the batteries in an electric car. Then, the MagGen can run when the car is parked and sell power to the utility. Prototypes are under development.
Next is a Self Powered Internal Combustion Engine - SPICE, which can power a hybrid. It will need no fuel and is another path to ending the need to plug-in. The engine can run when parked. Both systems can wirelessly transmit and sell power to the local utility.
The SPICE will be powered by hydrinos - which let a barrel of water equal hundreds of barrels of oil.
Scientists and engineers will doubt these technologies are possible until they have been validated by Independent Laboratories. That is an important step on the agenda.
Until now, car ownership has been an expense. Payments to car owners driving a hybrid with a SPICE, or powered by MagGen, are likely to be substantial.
The cost of many vehicles might be paid for by utilities, as they purchase power. Parked cars each become decentralized power plants - a rapid, cost-effective path to a rebirth of the automobile industry and the world economy.
And someday cold fusion will power are cell phones....
These libs are dreaming that this will create jobs; It's OK though; this will help our country rid ourselves of these communist vermin next election cycle.
ACES is a banking bill not a climate bill. read it, its 80% banker jargon.,
If ACES is signed into law, the global carbon market could become the largest commodity market in the world.
Complete with Derivatives like Credit default swaps!
Dump this bill.
Do a simple transparent carbon tax bill of 1$ per ton carbon equivalent.
Invest in rooftop solar and biochar, the cheapest, safe unlimited fuel sources.
NO MORE BANKSTER WORSHIP!
unfortunatly Obama, Lieberman, Clinton, Rahm and the conservative DLC are completely owned and controlled by the bankers. see my profile for details and link.
Boy !! ACES has grown from an overwieght infant to full grown and bulging bill in what seems like a few short days. Any thing over 1,000 pages is a hard hard read. It should be on the table for years, constantly under refinement, before it even has a chance. This sucker left the campagin trail and went into draft as soon ad the Pres. was sworn in. GOOOD GRIEF!! This is the highest level of political resolve I have seen short of the Civil Rights movement.
The reason for the fairly heavy opposition the bill (on both sides of the isle, mind you) faces is its myriad of unanswered questions. The fact is, people want us to start taking more responsibility for our enviroment. That is a noble and just cause. At face value, the ACES is a great idea. But the suits came rushing in, seeing green, and screwed a grea idea into another expensive disaster.
All politicising the issue does is start a fire that threatens to burn us from the inside out; forcing the cost of change on the market and, inevitably, the consumer.
to: "research"---- I like where you age going with your idea, But then the average American would be entitled to pay about 250$ a year just to breathe. Does that give you an idea of the expense even your conservative emissons tax would bring to bear???
10 cents per year to breath per person. Check your math.
I think a missed a decimal in my other post
It would cost around 2.50$ a year for a human to breathe, this figure also take methane into account, not just CO2. I dont like to misrepresnt figures. OOPS!
Humans create about 1KG CO2 per day, about .25 kg Carbon. that's less than 1/10 ton per year, or 10 cents.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080923091421AA830QK
Whereas the giant polluters will pay giant taxes, as it should be.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax
"For example, even if the United States completely eliminated carbon emissions, global levels would still rise because developing countries' emissions are rapidly growing."
This is the single worst, and most childish, argument I've ever seen. You are basically saying "But China's mom let's THEM pump out toxic emissions!"
The only way the US government can create a law that forces other countries to curb emissions is through sanctions. Since the countries we are most worried about are major exporters to the US, it makes sense to add tarriffs to their products unless they meet some sort of emissions standards.
Perhaps this is problematic because of trade agreements and can't be implemented, but fortunately that has absolutely nothing to do with our emissions, or a cap-and-trade scheme.
And in response to the impact on fuel prices, too bad. it is an unfortunate, but necessary, consequence of forcing fuel prices to take into account the downstream costs to the planet. I'm a commuter, so it's going to hit me pretty hard ($50/month probably), but I'm willing to make that paltry sacrifice.
PERHAPS this is problematic? Yeah, let's start a trade war with China because they won't buy into the global warming hoax, and destroy what's left of our economy. Then let's increase taxes on everybody so we can save the planet, even though a) it doesn't need saving and b) our decreases will just be taken up by increased emissions from the countries that take over our lost manufacturing. Your gas prices will go up $50 a year? No, everything you consume will go up. Energy costs, including electricity, as the taxes are passed through to you. Goods will be more expensive to manufacture, import and transport. Including food. The cost of living wil go up across the board. But your wages won't, because more and more businesses will close under the burdens of increases taxes and surcharges, or lost business because our goods will not be exported because we're "punishing" China and India for emitting CO2. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Can't wait!!!
Wow. You certainly know how to cherrypick the stats.
ACES will bring back American jobs and manufacturing. You are doing a disservice to American small businesses by opposing it.
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