Scientists & Engineers for America

[edit] CURRENT STATUS

Climate change legislation passed the House on June 26, 2009. Companion legislation is still pending in the Senate.

H.R.2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.

Sponsor: Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA30). Currently Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Co-Sponsor: Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA7). Currently Chairman of the House Energy and the Environment Subcommittee.

To achieve the objectives stated above, this legislation contains four titles respectively:

1. A title on a clean energy that promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission.

2. A title on energy efficiency that improves energy efficiency across all components of the American economy including buildings, transportation, appliances and industry.

3. A title on global warming that imposes limits on emissions of heat-trapping pollutants. This legislation would cut global warming pollution by 17% compared to 2005 levels in 2020, by 42% in 2030 and by 83% in 2050. These figures are science-based emission reduction goals and within the range agreed to by USCAP.

4. A title that protects American consumers and industry as well as promoting green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.

Status:

Introduced: Friday, May 15th, 2009.

Reported by Committee: Thursday, May 21st, 2009. House Energy and Commerce, ordered to be reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays,33-25.

Passed the House: Friday, June 26th, 2009. Yeas and Nays, 219-212 (Roll no. 477).

Latest position: Tuesday, July 7th, 2009. Received in the Senate, read for the second time.

Key details of the ACES bill:

1. Aim to reduce the U.S. emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases by 17% in 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Chairman Waxman reduced it from his initial target of 20% but it is certainly higher than 15% goal proposed by President Obama. The bill also requires 42% reduction by 2030 and 83% by 2050 respectively.

2. There are various estimates for the legislation's cost on consumers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the bill will cost on average $80-$111 annually whereas the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated an annual average cost of $175 per household where the poorest would enjoy $40 per year from rebates and other assistance.

3. Many coal-based utility companies would be exempted from carbon-emission reductions requirements for new plants currently scheduled for construction.

4. New protections for the agricultural sector were included such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversight instead of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of carbon-reduction by farmers, some rural electric utilities would enjoy free pollution permits from the government and EPA-sponsored obstacles to corn-based ethanol would be shelved away for 5 years or longer

5. The establishment of a “clean energy” bank within the Energy Department for direct loans and government loan guarantees provisions to support clean energy technology projects.

6. A one-year, two-prong plan designed to induce new car sales and for consumers to exchange their current “clunker” cars with more fuel-efficient alternatives. A voucher of up to $4,500 will be provided.

7. On an initial basis, approximately 85% of the pollution permits that businesses are required to obtain, would be given for free and about 15% are to be sold. 30% of the free permits are allocated to local electricity distribution companies with the requirement to protect consumers from electricity price hikes.

Other free permits recipients are steel, cement, glass and other heavy industries (15%); local natural gas distributors (9%); electric and advanced technology vehicles companies (3%); oil refiners (2%). These free permits give-away are intended to prevent burdening industries and protecting consumers from possible energy price hikes. However, in 2026 the number of free permits will be reduced.

8. Industries are allowed to “offset” up to 2 billion tons of their annual emissions, provided that they fund environmental projects in the U.S. or abroad.

9. Approximately $100 billion worth in bonus carbon pollution permits could be granted to electric utilities that managed to capture and store greenhouse gas emissions.

10. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would possesses greater powers to investigate possible manipulation of carbon and natural gas markets.

Feature document: The Congressional Budget Office report on the Estimated Costs to Households From Cap-and-Trade Provisions of H.R.2454 (June 20, 2009)

Please also read these recently updated documents:

ACES, Summary of Manager's Amendment (June 26, 2009)

ACES: By the numbers (June 26, 2009)

ACES Bill Text, as filed with Rules Committee (June 23,2009)

ACES Bill Summary, as filed with Rules Committee (June 23, 2009)

Summary of changes as filed with Rules Committee (June 23, 2009)

List of Supporters of House Passage of ACES (June 24, 2009)

New EPA analysis of ACES (June 23, 2009)

Fact Sheet on Economy and Jobs (June 16, 2009)

[edit] SPECIAL COVERAGE ON COPENHAGEN 2009

The latest developments at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. December 7th to 18th, 2009.

Useful links:

• United States official Copenhagen 2009 website
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
• UN Climate Change Conference, Denmark (host country website)
• The Kyoto Protocol 1998

December 18th, 2009.

President Obama in Denmark, urges action towards a climate change agreement.

In a relatively short speech to a session of attended by more than 100 heads of state from around the world, President Barack Obama outlined the main points towards a possible international agreement to tackle the changing climate: commitments by industrialised and fast-growing developing economies to limit greenhouse gases emissions, a mechanism to monitor international emissions commitments and an aid package to assist poor countries in adapting to climate change and move towards the green-economy. He also stressed that Washington would still move towards reducing emissions in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, regardless of the development post-Copenhagen and urged for an agreement to be reached. "We are ready to get this done today...but there has to be movement on all sides," he said.^[1]

December 17th, 2009.

The U.S will contribute to the global climate change fund -Clinton

The United States is to contribute in raising $100 billion climate change fund by 2020 to assist the world's poorest countries to adapt to the changing climate, the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced during a morning news conference.^[2]

Secretary Clinton said the American share of the $100 billion would be from both the private and public purses, aimed at funding measures such as forest preservation but stressed that the Washington's pledge would expire at the end of the international summit in the Danish capital if no agreement is reached. "If there is not even a commitment to pursue transparency, that's kind of a deal-breaker for us," she said.

In response, China signalled that it is ready to address the American demand of major developing economies participation in greenhouse gases emissions reduction which should be subjected to external verifications. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told reporters in that Beijing is open to "dialogue and cooperation that is not intrusive, that does not infringe on China's sovereignty"

Please read the press release by the State Department on the agreement of an initial $3.5 billion funding for deforestation.

December 17th, 2009.

Pelosi leading 21-member bipartisan delegation to Copenhagen.

The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is to lead a bipartisan 21-member congressional delegation to the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen.

“We see Copenhagen as a meeting about job creation – how do we move forward to create millions of clean energy jobs and new technologies to keep America number one. We are going to send a message of support for the Obama Administration’s efforts and we bring with us the strong commitment of the Congress to take action, as the House of Representatives did in June,” she said in a statement

December 16th, 2009.

Climate agreement success in Copenhagen would boost Senate action -Kerry

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) “urged the Copenhagen climate summit Wednesday to ensure transparent action by China, India and other emerging nations, calling it crucial to ensuring support in Washington.”^[3]

During a quick visit to Copenhagen, Kerry told reporters that "Success in Copenhagen is really critical to success next year in the United States Senate...to pass a bill, we must be able to assure a senator from Ohio that steel workers in his state won't lose their jobs to India and China because those countries are not participating in a way that is measureable, reportable and verifiable," he added. The 12 days of international talks on climate change in the Danish capital is due to reach its climax on Friday.

December 10th, 2009.

U.S. seeks emission reductions from the developing world.

Two senior American officials namely the EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and the special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern arrived at the UN Climate summit in Copenhagen, outlining Washington's readiness to be a committed partner in fighting climate change, provided that China and other major developing countries reduced their greenhouse gas emissions concomitantly.^[4]

"Emissions are emissions. You've just got to do the math....If you care about the science, and we do, there is no way to solve this problem by giving the major developing countries a pass." Stern told reporters.

Meanwhile Tuvalu, a small Island-nation in the Pacific and threatened by rising sea levels, launched an unsuccessful attempt on Wednesday to persuade delegates to consider a new legally-binding agreement which included a stricter climate target and mandatory greenhouse gas reductions for both industrialised and major developing economies. China, India and Saudi Arabia blocked the motion.

December 10th, 2009.

Senate Republicans demand UN investigation into the leaked climate change e-mails.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and “26 Republicans today sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon" demanding an independent inquiry into the controversial e-mails that were hacked from the servers of the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU)United Kingdom, which is one of the world's prestigious climate research institution.

The letter to the UN Secretary General can be accessed here

[edit] DEVELOPMENTS OFF OF THE FLOOR

December 16th, 2009.

Graham visits the White House for climate change meeting.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “is headed to the White House Wednesday afternoon for a private meeting with top administration climate aide Carol Browner,” to discuss on mechanisms in alleviating the concerns of manufacturing and coal states of electricity bill hikes due to cap-and-trade.^[5]

Senators Graham, Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) are working together in crafting a bipartisan cap-and-trade bill.

December 9th, 2009.

Climate change bill to the Senate floor next year -Kerry

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) anticipates the climate change bill will be on the Senate floor next year, "The leader is committed to move to this after we finish the financial regulatory reform....the president is in sync with that schedule," he said after a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).^[6]

December 2nd, 2009.

Kerry confident Copenhagen Climate Talks can be successful

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA)said on Wednesday that "he was confident that international climate talks in Copenhagen would result in a political agreement, even without a Senate Climate Bill". However, he said that an international agreement could assist in the passage of the climate bill through Senate by convincing skeptical lawmakers.^[7]

Senator Kerry also implied that "a bipartisan group attempting to write a climate bill is unlikely to release a framework of their proposal before the talks begin this weekend.”

November 16th, 2009.

'Early spring' 2010 for climate bill passage -Kerry

Senator John Kerry told reporters that Senate Democrats will try to pass a climate-change bill, only in "early spring" of next year after finishing the reforming the health-care system and the financial industry regulation.^[8]

This might complicate matters during next month's international climate summit in Copenhagen as many countries are expecting Washington to take the lead, post-Kyoto Protocol. Waxman-Markey bill was passed by the House but its Senate counterpart, the Kerry-Boxer bill is moving at a relatively glacial pace in the Senate.

Meanwhile, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) said that he would not support the Kerry-Boxer measure. “In its present form I would not vote for it,” he said. “I have some real questions about the real complexities on cap and trade.”^[9]

November 13th, 2009.

14 Democratic senators wants climate change equality.

A group of Democratic senators wrote to their fellow counterparts, highlighting that the climate change bill will unfairly harm their states. The senators applauded the cap-and-trade system but pointed out that the suggested emission allowances in the bill would affect the industries in the thier home-state.^[10]

"To be fair and effective, any legislation must equitably allocate these allowances to individuals and across states and regions and economic sectors," wrote the senators in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus.

The signatories to the letter are:

• Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
• Al Franken (D-Minn.)
• Roland Burris (D-Ill.)
• Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.)
• Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)
• Russ Feingold (D-Wis.)
• Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)
• Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)
• Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
• Mark Udall (D-Colo.)
• Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.)
• Carl Levin (D-Mich.)
• Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)
• Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

November 10th, 2009.

Climate change framework to be ready for Copenhagen -Kerry.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) promised United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon today that the US Senate will complete the framework of climate change bill before next month’s international summit in Copenhagen, Denmark.^[11]

"We are engaged in the process that will hopefully put us in a position to go to Copenhagen with a sort of framework, or outline, or where the Senate will be heading in its legislation," Senator Kerry told reporters after meeting the UN Secretary General.

October 17th, 2009.

Murkowski might support climate change bill.

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has said that she is keeping her mind open and that she could vote for a revised version of Democrats' forthcoming cap-and-trade bill^[12]

"Count me as one of those who will keep my mind open as we move forward," she said in an interview set to air on Sunday on the C-SPAN cable TV network. Senator Murkowski's is another Republican after Lindsey Graham, who published an opinion piece in the New York Times with Democratic Senator John Kerry, in saying that they are open to support the climate change effort.

October 13th, 2009.

EPW panel hearing on October 27th.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee "will begin hearings on global warming legislation Oct. 27, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said today"^[13]

A markup session for S.1733 (Kerry-Boxer Bill) could be held of the week November 2nd or November 9th and individuals who are scheduled to testify are:

• Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
• Transporation Secretary Ray LaHood.
• EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff

October 11th, 2009.

Lindsey Graham supports climate-change move.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) showed his support his support for a climate-change legislation this year, when he and Democratic Senator John Kerry wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times with the hope of gathering sufficient support in the Senate.

"We refuse to accept the argument that the United States cannot lead the world in addressing global climate change....We are also convinced that we have found both a framework for climate legislation to pass Congress and the blueprint for a clean-energy future." Graham and Kerry wrote.

However, the path to a climate-change law this year is still considered to be an uphill struggle and need to overcome obstacles in the Senate.^[14]

October 7th, 2009.

Brown wants protection for manufacturers in climate change bill.

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said that he's worried about the impact of climate change bill on the manufacturing sector and that he would support the measure if it provides sufficient protection and investment incentives for American businesses.^[15]

Brown said that the “climate legislation should include provisions to prevent disadvantages for U.S. manufacturers, provide long-term investment tax credits, put a price on carbon emissions, require a portion of electricity to be generated from renewable energy and help workers transition to new jobs.”

October 7th, 2009.

Bipartisan push for forest preservation programs.

A new bipartisan coalition of government, environmental and business leaders is asking the Senate to allocate billions to fund tropical deforestation prevention programs in developing countries.^[16]

The Commission on Climate and Tropical Forests argues in a report that paying developing countries to preserve their tropical forests would provide economic incentives in halting deforestation, which accounts for approximately 17% of global heat-trapping gases emissions.

“It is truly time for America to launch a comprehensive response to this manageable threat,...Protecting the planet’s climate forests and fighting climate change can be the defining bipartisan issue of our time, but so far that bipartisanship has been largely absent,” wrote former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee.

The commission suggests that the U.S. invest $1 billion by 2012 in deforestation programs and $5 billion annually by 2020.

October 6th, 2009.

Boxer remains hopeful for climate change law this year.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman, Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.) says that she is still hopeful for a climate change law to materialise this year, while warning that prolonged debate on healthcare reform could undermine the progress of the climate bill.^[17]

"We are in many ways looking at a calendar that is moving and moving and moving....,As we all know, the days hurry by to a precious few. This is happening here, and we know the healthcare debate is taking longer than we thought it would, which is nobody's fault," she told the liberal Bill Press radio show podcast.

October 2nd, 2009.

No climate change law this year -Browner

Th Administration's top energy advisor said that the Congress will not be able to pass a climate change bill this year and before the Copenhagen talks in December. "That's not going to happen," said Carol Browner.^[18]

"Obviously, we'd like to be through the process, but that's not going to happen,....I think we would all agree the likelihood you would have a bill signed by the president on comprehensive energy by the time we go early in December is not likely." Browner added. She made the statement at a conference organised by The Atlantic magazine, few days after Senators Boxer and Kerry introduced a major bill on climate change. In a video posted on the magazine's Web site, she was asked about the prospects of enacting climate legislation by the time negotiations on a new global climate treaty begin in December in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Senate Democrats unveiled a bill recently which aims to reduce greenhouse gasses by 20% by 2020, whereas the House passed a bill in June that calls for a 17% reduction during the same period. Both exceeded President Obama's suggestion on a 14% cuts.

The Senate bill includes an economy-wide cap-and-trade system that would require power plants, industrial facilities and refineries to reduce greenhouse gases pollution. Although an overall emission cap is in place, polluters would be able to purchase emission allowances to limit reductions. However, the bill does not specify the mechanism of emission allowances distribution, a thorny issue that will be revisited on a later date.

Climate change is one of the major issues facing lawmakers, who also need to concentrate on the health care reform and imposing new financial regulations on Wall Street but Browner said that should impede the progress of climate bill debate. "People can work long hours," she said. "They can work a couple of extra days. It's not impossible."

September 29th, 2009.

Tougher Senate climate bill on greenhouse gas reductions.

Senior Senate Democrats plan to reveal a tougher climate-change bill that push for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases emissions by 2020, which is higher than the House version and what White House wants, a 14% cuts. The House bill calls for 17% reduction over the same period, was passed in June. The bill will be released by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with the vote by the panel likely to be late next month.^[19]

California Democrat Barbara Boxer, who chairs the Senate Panel and Senator John Kerry (D.-Mass), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hope the draft bill, which is likely to face challenges will provide new momentum to climate change debate, a priority of the current Administration that has been eclipsed by the healthcare reform. The White House is keen to have the climate bill signed into law before the international climate summit scheduled to be held in Copenhagen later this year but the Senate Majority Harry Reid (D.-Nev) has stated that any chamber vote would have to wait until next year.

In contrast to the House version, the Senate climate draft would preserve the the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) jurisdiction to use the Clean Air Act in regulating emissions. It also offers incentives for nuclear power plant construction and protections to minimise cost of emissions permits for electric companies and other major greenhouse gas emitters.

In a separate development, Exelon was a third utility company after PG&E and PNM Resources to leave the U.S Chamber of Commerce, protesting over the chamber's stance on climate change legislation.

September 23rd, 2009.

Utility rejects Chamber of Commerce climate stance.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)announced that it is leaving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a sign of protest for the organisation's stance on climate change.^[20]

The San Francisco-based utility company regards the Chamber's position as "extreme" and is distancing itself. "We find it dismaying that the Chamber neglects the indisputable fact that a decisive majority of experts have said the data on global warming are compelling and point to a threat that cannot be ignored," wrote Peter Darbee, PG&E Chairman and CEO. He also added that "In our opinion, an intellectually honest argument over the best policy response to the challenges of climate change is one thing; disingenuous attempts to diminish or distort the reality of these challenges are quite another."

August 31st, 2009.

Climate change bill delayed.

Democratic Senators had to delay the introduction of the climate change bill but expected for a final vote to commence in late 2009.^[21]

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chairwoman Barbara Boxer said in a joint statement that the bill drafting process is "moving along well" but hoped to "introduce our bill later in September.

Their stated that the delay was due to the passing of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, healthcare reform efforts and Senator Kerry's recent surgery.

August 26th, 2009.

Landrieu says she'll oppose Cap-and-Trade proposal.

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La) stated in a speech in Monroe Chamber of Commerce that she "would lobby against a propose energy tax known as Cap and Trade"^[22]

She said that is not supporting the current approach to climate management by imposing the cap-and-trade but is open to any changes. “I’m going to be as strong a voice as I can that we still need oil and gas in America.....We don’t need less drilling. We need to do more as we move toward a greener grid,” she said.

August 20th, 2009.

'Cash-for-clunkers' to end on Monday, August 24th.

The U.S. government will suspend the popular 'cash-for-clunkers' program this Monday, after spending the allocated $3 billion over one month. The auto trade-in initiative, officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, offers up to $4,500 in cash rebates to individuals who exchanged their old vehicles for more energy-efficient alternatives.^[23]

August 14th, 2009.

Centrist Senators want 'cap-and-trade' out of energy bill

Four Democratic lawmakers said that the Senate should concentrate on a narrower bill which require renewable energy use and leave out measures to control greenhouse gas emissions.^[24]

"The problem of doing both of them together is that it becomes too big of a lift," said Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. She also added "I see the cap-and-trade being a real problem". North Dakota Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad as well as Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska joined Lincoln in her call for separation separation of the measures.

Vitter doubts climate-change evidence.

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) expressed his doubts today about the evidence for climate-change, saying, "evidence from liberals supporting climate change is often based on ridiculous pseudo-science garbage,"^[25]

Vitter commented on the claim made by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) that increased turbulence during her plane flights is a sign of climate-change.

Mr. Vitter also expressed confidence that the climate-change bill will not be a success. "I am very hopeful that we can block draconian legislation on the Senate floor, and that we can prevent it from getting 60 votes," he said. "I think there are several Democrats from the upper Plains states, from the Midwest, also my colleague Mary Landrieu from Louisiana, who are going to have a very difficult time supporting this."”^[26]

August 8th, 2009.

Climate change - a threat to U.S. Security

Climate change is now seen as source of strategic threat to U.S. security, as changing weather, effects on vital natural resources, and the possibility of more frequent occurrence of natural disasters may increase the necessity for US humanitarian or military interventions around the globe.^[27]

Intelligence studies and war games reveal that in the next 2 to 3 decades, vulnerable regions around the world such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa could be embroiled in situations resulting from climate change that would necessitate an American humanitarian relief or military action.

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a strong supporter of the ACES bill, said that he hopes to convince undecided fellow Senators to support the bill by pressing the national security argument. He says he has already talked to 30 undecided senators on the issue.

August 7th, 2009.

Senate approves, Obama signs extension for 'cash-for-clunkers'

President Barack Obama this morning signed the Senate-approved 'cash-for-clunkers' program extension into law.^[28]

The Senate approved an additional $2 billion for the popular program by a vote of 60 to 37 and senators also adopted a motion to waive a budget point of order raised against the bill (H.R.3435), also by a vote of 60-37.

The Democrats managed to fend off all Republican (and one Democrat) amendments to the measure.

August 5th, 2009.

Deal reached on 'cash for clunkers'

Senators achieved a deal late Wednesday to save the 'cash for clunkers' program and agreed to vote on a plan that would provide additional $2 billion to the popular initiative, allowing interested public until Labour Day to replace their fuel-consuming vehicles for energy-efficient alternatives.^[29]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the Democrats have sufficient votes to approve the bill to defeat any changes to the bill, hence eliminating the requirement for additional House action and permits President Obama to send the bill into law while members are away.

August 4th, 2009.

Senate will extend "cash for clunkers" -Reid.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) yesterday said that he believes the Senate would extend the lifeline of the auto trade-in "cash for clunkers" program before the August break."We will pass cash for clunkers" he said.^[30]

The auto trade in initiative,officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, offers up to $4,500 in cash rebates as assistance for individuals who exchanged their old fuel-consuming vehicles for a more energy-efficient alternatives. It is also part of the White House's economic stimulus plan.

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) said “What I anticipate is that it will be completed before the end of the week," and added “What we’ll be negotiating over will be the appropriateness of some amendments to the bill.”^[31]

July 24th, 2009.

Delay on healthcare may negate climate bill progress.

The Senate’s inability to meet its early August deadline to approve a major healthcare reform bill may negate the progress of ACES, which the Obama Administration is keen to become law before the Copenhagen summit this December.^[32]

ACES is not expected on the Senate floor until October and a spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid emphasised that everything is still within schedule. As two important bills are being examined in the Senate, there are concerns that many of the leading Senators might not be able to juggle both at the same time.

Moderate Senate Republicans have already expressed their concerns over the quick pace of the healthcare reform and climate change bills, both with wide implications. Senators Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), both whom might be courted by the Democrats for sufficient votes in the Senate, believe that the debate should slow down.^[33]

Even before healthcare reform suffered delays, many senators were skeptical there would be time this year to pass a climate bill before December's Copenhagen meeting, which hopes to nail down new long-term targets for global reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

Meanwhile, consumer groups including Public Citizen, AARP and the Consumer Federation of America are unified in making their concerns over the climate bill public and after holding a conference call on Wednesday, announced that a letter was sent to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee by 24 organisations to highlight their preference in the climate bill.^[34]

July 16th, 2009.

Energy-intensive industries demand more carbon permits.

American energy-intensive industries such as aluminum and steel demands a higher percentage of the free pollution permits from 13.5% to 15%, required for greenhouse gases emission under the American Clean Energy and Security Act(ACES).^[35]

A letter signed by four trade groups, The American Chemistry Council, The Aluminum Association, American Forest & Paper Association and the American Iron and Steel Institute was faxed last night to all members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which is currently looking into the bill.

June 28th, 2009

Obama concerned about ACES' protectionism

President Obama hailed the success of ACES' passage through the House but expressed concerns regarding a portion of the climate bill that would penalize other countries based on how they address climate change and heat-trapping gases emissions. He pointed out that other provisions within the bill would be sufficient in protecting U.S. manufacturers.^[36]

During an interview in the Oval Office, the President said "At a time when the economy worldwide is still deep in recession and we've seen a significant drop in global trade I think we have to be very careful about sending any protectionist signals out.^[37] I think there may be other ways of doing it than with a tariff approach,”^[38]

June 25, 2009

The White House pushing ACES forward

The Obama administration is currently involved in convincing skeptical lawmakers in both parties to back the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 during the final days leading to an expected close House vote tomorrow.^[39]

White House Climate Czar Carol Browner, Phil Schiliro, the President's assistant for legislative affairs, and other White House staffers have met with Democrats and Republicans still uncommitted to passing ACES through the House.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Environment Subcommittee Chair Ed Markey have continued to drum up support for ACES.

June 24, 2009

Environmentalists support for ACES

The deal reached between House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson has not dented the support of environmentalist groups such as the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council and League of Conservation Voters. These groups continue to support the bill and put pressure on legislators.^[40]

Focus is on several liberal Democrats who may favor a carbon tax instead of a cap-and-trade program, or prefer steeper emissions reductions.

To drum up support for the bill, the Sierra Club has a new advertisement in conjunction with the League of Conservation Voters which highlights President Obama's support for ACES. It will be aired on on cable until Friday, June 26. Last week, Sierra Club, along with VoteVets, also launched a Beltway (Washington, DC) television advertisement to support the legislation.

Some environment groups, such as Friends of the Earth, continue to oppose the bill, considering its regulations to be too weak, and therefore ineffective.

June 23rd, 2009

Low annual cost for ACES -EPA

After the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its report last Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released another cost analysis on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill. The annual household cost was estimated to be between $80 to $111.

According to a summary provided by the office of House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, the EPA new cost assessment revealed that the average cost to households is between 22 to 33 cents per day, compared to an average of 48 cents per day in 2020 as determined by the CBO.

This latest EPA estimates is lower than the initial analysis on a draft bill that did not take into account the deals achieved with fellow Democrats that provide emission credits to various industries and offset costs to low-income consumers.

June 22th, 2009

Cap-and-Trade costs $175 per household -CBO

A study by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) indicates that the cost of the pending cap-and-trade within the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill will cost approximately $175 annually on average per household, although the poorest consumers would experience a net gain. The study was requested by House Ways and Means ranking member Dave Camp, concentrated on the cap-and-trade section of the legislation.

CBO separated the costs into 5 income quintiles, with the lowest receiving an average annual benefit of roughly $40 in 2020 due to other assitance offered in the bill. The second-lowest quintile would have to fork out around $40 annually; the middle quintile $235 in net costs; followed by the next-highest with $340 annual cost and the highest end would pay $245 per year.

The total cap-and-trade cost would be $22 billion in 2020 as industries are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.The report was released late Friday (Please read Feature Document above)

June 18th, 2009

Coal lobby argues ACES is costly

The coal industry fights back on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill, which will control the use of coal for energy, by highlighting the possible cost across the U.S. A map was circulated to show the states that will experience electricity bills increments under the legislation.^[41]

The House Republicans are also circulating the coal industry's map, hoping to block the bill. The National Mining Association, a trade group representing coal producers has claimed credit for the map even though an official at Peabody Energy, a large coal company is shown to be the specific author. According to the map, electric bill in Texas could surge by more than $1 billion and $636 million in Pennsylvania in 2012, and on each subsequent years if ACES becomes law. It was shown that the bill effectively cause a transfer of wealth from states with high carbon emission to those with lower levels such as California and Oregon. "This is simply to say'Let's be careful before we leap in the dark here'" said Luke Popovich of the mining group.

However, supporters of the bill argues that the industry's estimates are exaggerations and excluded the means ACES will offset rising energy cost or the employment opportunities it will create. A different map being circulated showed a softer impact in 2012, where electric rates in Pennsylvania and Texas would only increase by $3 whereas consumers in Oregon and Washington state would save only $1. The estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that the ACES bill will cost consumers between $98 to $140 annually on average.

Coal power accounts for more than 50% of electricity generated in the United States but they are the single largest source of carbon dioxide emissions from human activity.

June 16th, 2009

Global warming has 'visible' impact -Study

The Obama administration today released a a scientific study that concludes global warming as "already having visible impact on the United States" due to "primarily human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases".^[42]

The report entitled "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States," was written by experts from 13 government agencies and several universities. The authors emphasized that their study incorporates both Republican and Democratic administrations.

The study discussed the impact of climate change and also suggested corrective actions that can be taken including emission reduction and improving energy efficiency.

The report can be accessed here

June 9th, 2009

Climate change campaigns warming up

Major interest groups are gearing up for public relations campaigns as the House is preparing for a potential vote on climate change before the Independence Day break.

In a letter to House Speaker Pelosi on Monday, 20 environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Environment America and National Wildlife Federation urge for the ACES bill to require electric utility companies to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy sources and to reduce 10% of their energy consumption by 2020. The group also request Pelosi to reject attempts to weaken the bill’s cap-and-trade requirement for greenhouse gases emissions reduction.^[43]

June 7th, 2009.

CBO:- ACES bill would reduce Federal deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has revealed that the House American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill would potentially reduce the federal deficit approximately $24 billion between 2010 and 2019 inclusive of mandatory direct spending.^[44]

The CBO analysis which was released on Friday, found that increments in Federal revenues would be about $846 billion and direct spending around $ 821 billion in that decade but also point out that the bill’s discretionary spending subject to congress could reach around $50 billion over the same period. It was also estimated that the legislation’s method of free distribution and auction of emission credits would generate revenue of $254 billion between 2010 and 2014 and $858 billion over the next decade, net of income and payroll taxes.

Initially, the majority of emission permits will be distributed freely but the free permits will be phase out gradually. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va) has stated that he intends to extend the phasing-out period. CBO estimation performed on the information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that the climate bill’s cap-and-trade program would affect around 7400 facilities and that program would cover roughly 72% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2012, about 78% in 2015 and around 86% in 2020 respectively.

Skeptical Democrats on the Ways and Means and Agriculture committees have express concerns regarding the legislation’s possible economic impact on businesses and consumers.

[edit] THE HOUSE

August 2nd, 2009.

House rushed additional $2 billion for 'cash for clunkers'.

House lawmakers scrambled into action on Friday and extended the lifeline of the popular 'cash for clunkers' program by approving an additional $2 billion. The additional provision was meant to keep the momentum of the program which is also part and parcel of the Obama Administration’s economic stimulus plan.^[45]

There was confusion as whether the program is still continuing as reports showed it became a victim of its own success, sapping up its $1 billion allocation in less than a week. The additional $2 billion was provided from a $6 billion Department of Energy loan guarantee fund (set up as part of the massive $787 billion economic stimulus plan) to propel innovation in renewables.^[46]

However, the future of the initiative is still uncertain beyond this weekend and it may face a tougher time in the Senate this coming week. President Obama urged the Senate to move swiftly in approving the additional funding and praised the House 316-109 vote on Friday.

June 27th, 2009

House approved the ACES bill with a tight margin

On June 26, 2009 the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) by a narrow margin, 219-212.

President Obama has indicated that climate change legislation is a top priority. Eight Republicans veered from the party line and supported with 44 Democrats voting against the legislation. The next stop for ACES will be the Senate where it will undergo additional changes.

According to the Los Angeles Times, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said, “This is a moment to build a clean energy future for our country. This is a moment to create jobs. This is a moment to take on, at long last, a defining challenge of our time: global warming."^[47]

On Friday, some undecided lawmakers received calls from President Obama and his staff. ^[48] Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had also reached out to those still on the fence. Even former Vice-President Al Gore, who shares a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming, blogged in support for the bill’s passage.^[49]

This is the first time either branch of Congress approved legislation with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.^[50] According to the LA Times, President Obama called the House approval of ACES a “bold and necessary step that holds the promise of creating new industries and millions of new jobs, decreasing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil” and, with confidence that the Senate would pass similar legislation, looked forward to saying “at long last, that this was the moment when we decided to confront America’s energy challenge and reclaim America’s future.” ^[51]

ACES still must get through the Senate, where it faces greater obstacles. Senators had originally attempted to introduce a version of the bill, but may adopt the House measure as a starting point. Senate Democratic leaders are hoping for swift action on the bill. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) indicated that passage in the House "gives us the momentum we need."^[52]

Several major national and international players supported the bill, including the Environmental Defense Fund, the League of Conservation Voters, Ford, GE, and Dow Chemical. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth opposed the bill for not going far enough in reducing emissions, as did the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Previously, on the international level, the United States has consistently opposed mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions.^[53] The bill’s passage in the House sets a clear indication of the U.S. commitment to global cooperation in addressing climate change, especially as an international summit on a new climate change treaty is scheduled to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark this December.

June 26th, 2009

Democrats kick off ACES vote

House Democratic leaders began today's scheduled floor vote on the much anticipated American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act 2009 with confidence that they will have sufficient support, even though there are some concerns amongst their peers that they might fall short.^[54]

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), a deputy whip on the bill, said Democratic leaders were close to a majority. Rep. Butterfield had help from the White House in trying to gather the needed support, but as of this morning, it was not clear that the votes would be there.

The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, met with President Obama in Washington on June 26, 2009 to express strong support for ACES, although it proposes weaker regulations than the European greenhouse gases emission reduction targets. After meeting with Mr. Obama, she stated that she had observed a "sea of change" in Washington on climate policy.^[55]

June 24, 2009

House Democrats expect 218 possible votes

The White House and House Democratic leaders are working with their members, as well as moderate Republicans, to prepare for the impending vote on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act 2009. A close vote is expected this Friday.^[56]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited moderate Republicans to meet with her and Energy and Commerce Democratic leaders. She is also talking with freshman and sophomore Democrats today.

Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) was tasked by Pelosi to gain support among the Congressional Black Caucus and fellow North Carolina Democrats. He said the CBC is "unsure" about ACES's impact on low-income consumers and said that he is trying to assuage their concerns, in part by publicly backing the bill.

House Republicans oppose the bill, describing it as a national energy tax that will cause price hikes for all forms of energy and place national jobs in jeopardy. House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) in a letter to his caucus, wrote that the vote on ACES would be one of the defining events of next year's election cycle and the Democrats would pay at the ballot box.^[57]

June 24, 2009

Waxman, Peterson Come to Agreement on USDA oversight

In response to criticism from farm-state Democrats, Agricultural Chairman Collin Peterson and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman agreed that the USDA, rather than the EPA, would oversee agricultural sections of the bill's cap-and-trade program. Prior to this agreement, several congressmen stood with Peterson against the bill due to the EPA's proposed leadership.^[58]

According to Waxman, this agreement improves the chances that the bill will pass in the House on Friday, June 26.^[59]

June 19th, 2009

ACES debate next week is unlikely

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said that he does not expect the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill to be on the House floor next week as House Democratic chairmen met with White House and farm group officials this afternoon.^[60]

Hoyer said the bill could come up if a deal was strucked in the next few days but indicated that it was unlikely to move until after the House recessed for the 4th of July.

Farm-state Democrats are not yet prepared to back the bill. House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson hosted a meeting attended by House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman, Carol Browner who is the White House climate czar, Phil Schiliro who is the White House's head of legislative affairs and a variety of farm interest groups this afternoon to discuss a proposal Waxman revealed on Thursday. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack participated via phone.

June 19th, 2009

House Republicans unhappy with ACES' speed

Eight ranking House Republicans sent a letter asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step back from her deadline to push the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill to the floor this summer.^[61]

House Ways and Means ranking member Dave Camp said in a press conference today that "This bill will have probably the greatest impact on our economy, on workers and families than any piece of legislation that has ever passed in the Congress." He also said "Not only are we being shut out, the committees of jurisdiction are being shut out and our Democratic colleagues are being shut out, but most importantly the American people are being shut out."

Camp was joined by the ranking members of the Financial Services, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. Each sited various problems with the bill. Financial Services ranking member, Spencer Bachus, claimed the bill will create a multitrillion-dollar derivatives market overnight whereas John Mica, a Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member, warned ACES would deaccelerate infrastructure building and destroy jobs. Republicans on the Foreign Affairs and Education and Labor committees that already discharged the bill were also on hand.

The letter was sent earlier this week as Pelosi and other Democratic leaders met with moderate Republicans to court their support for the bill.

June 19th, 2009

Waxman and Peterson may be close to a deal

House Democratic leaders believe that they are nearing to break the neogtiations deadlock with House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson and other unconvinced rural Democrats, and could gather enough votes to move the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill by late next week. However, many of those rural Democrats are less confident than their leaders that a deal is imminent.^[62]

According to Congress Daily, after a meeting with Peterson, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey, the House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman said "We have worked out some of the issues completely and there are a couple of other issues that I think we have an understanding of how to work them out." Peterson was apparently less optimistic than Waxman in his statements.

Peterson wants Midwestern coal-based electricity producers to be given more emission credits in ACES' cap-and-trade program. In addition, he wants the USDA, rather than the EPA, to oversee agriculture activities that could be used as offsets in achieveing the cap-and-trade emission reduction goals. Waxman, Pelosi and Markey met with Peterson immediately after they held a meeting with 11 moderate Republicans to convince them to support the bill.

4 of 6 Republican moderates who signed on to a letter by Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) to Pelosi in May, outlining the principles they require to support a climate bill, attended the meeting. Bono Mack was the only Republican who voted for ACES in the Energy and Commerce Committee markup.

June 18th, 2009

Democrats court moderate Republicans

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders are courting the support of a group of moderate Republicans, trying to garner possible majority votes as negotiations with rural Democrats nearing an impasse.^[63]

Sponsor of the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer met with roughly half-dozen moderate Tuesday Group Republicans. House Speaker Pelosi is also due to meet them in a meeting proposed by former Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.).

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who wants more nuclear and offshore energy production, said that Hoyer indicated that the Democrats might introduce a new energy production section to the bill.

Republicans had questioned the quick pace of the bill but Rep. Michaal Castle (R-Del.), who was still undecided after the meeting, said that both Waxman and Hoyer told the Tuesday Group Republicans they were unsure whether the bill would move next week or the first week after the Independence Day recess.

Castle also brought up the the bill's cost to consumers and nuclear energy, where Hoyer emphasised that he supports the latter.

The ACES bill on climate change which were criticised by some enviromental groups such as Greenpeace, is considered to be the most politically doable.

June 18th, 2009

Key chairmen still cannot agree on climate bill changes

House committee chairmen yesterday gave a rather conflicting views on reaching an agreement in the ACES bill. The House Energy and Commerce chairman Hanery Waxman, Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson and Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel all gave contrasting statements.^[64]

Chairman Peterson said that there is a "cultural difference here between the committees. And we sometimes go to these meetings, and people come out of there thinking that there's some kind of a meeting of the mind, and it turns out that we were talking a language that neither side understands the other." He is working to give Midwestern coal electricity producers such as rural electric cooperatives, more free emission credits in the legislation's cap-and-trade program. He also revealed that the member companies represented by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association are increasingly persuading the trade association to oppose the climate bill.

The strictness of the bill's deadline is unclear. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave committees until tomorrow to finish their work or risk losing jurisdiction over the bill, but she reiterated the possible flexibility of the deadline.

The complexity and fluidity of the negotiations prompted the Administration officials, including White House energy and climate czar Carol Browner and Agriculture Secretary Vilsack involved and have been contacting lawmakers.

June 11th, 2009

Democratic standstill on ACES

House Democratic leaders are approaching a negotiation deadlock with headstrong committee chairmen on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill, as discussions continue beyond key committees.^[65]

Discussions at the staff level, between Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson have hit a standstill and both have agreed to meet in person. Chairman Waxman said he still anticipate the legislation to be debated by the House before the Independence Day break whereas Chairman Peterson emphasised that his concerns are shared by at least 45 rural House Democrats. One of Chairman Peterson's main concern is he prefers the Agriculture Department, rather than the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to wield power over agriculture offsets that can be adopted to meet the bill's cap-and-trade emission reduction requirements.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has given the panels' chairmen until June 19 to mark up their parts of the bill or lose their partial jurisdiction.

The Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, who is currently occupied with the healthcare bill and Chairman Peterson have suggested that their respective panels will skip formal mark ups. Waxman pointed out that the panels can still impose their will through amendments on the floor.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Democrats met on Wednesday afternoon to try and reach a compromise with Waxman. "There doesn't seem to be any momentum" said Rep. Tim Waltz (D-Minn.)

Chairman Colin Peterson also met privately with Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and said that they "agree on a lot of things" but is unsure about Secretary Vilsack's position on the matter. Secretary Vilsack will testify at a hearing on the ACES bill in the Agriculture Committee today.

June 10th, 2009

House Republicans present alternative to ACES

The House Republicans introduce alternative energy bill that calls for 100 new nuclear power plants to be constructed in the next 20 years, as part of different approach to that proposed by the Democrats.

The alternative legislation would also increase offshore oil and gas production, accelerate construction of refineries and setting up a trust fund that will invest in renewable energy, using the fossil fuel royalties.

However, in contrst to the Democrat's legislation, the Republican bill did not set targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction nor generating electricity from renewable sources.

More information on the Republican Energy bill can be found here.

June 9th, 2009.

Ways and Means might forgo markup.

It appears to be increasingly likely for the House Ways and Means Democrats to forgo a formal markup of the ACES bill in lieu of contributing to a managers amendment. House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson of Connecticut, who is a Ways and Means member, said "Health clearly is the focus of the committee." The speed in which House Speaker Pelosi can push the bill forward hinges partly on whether and the speed Democratic leaders can agree with House Agriculture Chairman Colin Peterson, who had threatened to draw the support of roughly 40 or more rural Democrats to oppose the bill should some his concerns not properly addressed.^[66]

In a related development, House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana said the Republicans will unveil their alternative energy strategy on Wednesday and had declined to elaborate the matter further.

June 5th, 2009.

'Buy American’ returns within ACES.

The ACES bill provides room for automakers to qualify for financial assistance in producing plug-in electric cars but Michigan Democrats Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak took it further by inserting language stipulating that the aid is only applicable if the cars are “developed and produced in the United States”,which is also includes the batteries and retooling plants to manufacture plug-ins.^[67]

The provisions drew concerns from the business community as it potentially exposes the U.S. to protectionist allegations and provoking retaliations internationally. Rep. Stupak dismissed the trade concerns, saying that the provisions were crafted to comply with international standards.

June 4th, 2009.

Flexible deadline for ACES bill.

The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today emphasised the flexible nature of the June 19th deadline for various committees to complete work on the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill. "And if they're making progress and they need more time, I think that would not be a problem. However, we are going to go forward ... as soon as possible when it's ready," she said.^[68]

The Ways and Means Democrats yesterday tentative considering to punt on their portion of the climate bill, hence permitting them to concentrate on health care whereas panel Republicans demand the committee to assert its jurisdiction on the legislation. The Ways and Means Republican ranking member Dave Camp and panel Republicans wrote to Chairman Charles Rangel stating that the bill “imposes a tax increase on families, fundamentally alters almost every aspect of our economy, and raises significant policy issues with respect to our international trade obligations," and they are disappointed as no panel member "will have an opportunity to offer suggestions on ways to modify the bill or to propose alternative approaches."

Panel Democrats are also unhappy regarding the way the climate and energy legislation was being handled as they would prefer to have more time to introduce changes to the legislation and that health care was more important.

May 22nd, 2009.

Panel approved the ACES bill.

The House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee yesterday approved the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) legislation on almost a party-oriented vote. The bill was approved 33-25, after four consecutive days of public debate and 94 amendments.

The House E&C Committee Chairman, Henry A. Waxman said "Today the Committee took decisive and historic action to promote America's energy security and to create millions of clean energy jobs that will drive our economic recovery and long-term growth". He also stressed that "This bill, when enacted into law this year, will break our dependence on foreign oil, make our nation the world leader in clean energy jobs and technology, and cut global warming pollution. I am grateful to my colleagues who supported this legislation and to President Obama for his outstanding leadership on these critical issues". The co-sponsor of the bill, Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey added "With this plan, we will shape a new energy destiny for our country, where we innovate more and pollute less".

Four Democrats, all of whom are from the Blue Dog Coalition voted 'No' to the bill. They were Reps. John Barrow (Georgia), Mike Ross (Arkansas), Jim Matheson (Utah) and Charlie Melancon (Louisiana). The only Republican supporter of the ACES bill, California Representative Mary Bono Mack said "Still a long way to go but I think it's important to move the process forward and I do believe that the full House of Representatives deserves a debate". She also did not oppose the bill's cap-and-trade program, a rarity amongst the Republican camp on the panel.^[69]

The next step for the ACES bill would be the House Ways and Means Committee that is expected to deliberate on trade and tax implications of the legislation. However, the bill is expected to have a rough ride in the U.S. Senate as many Republicans and even some Democrats have concerns about the proposed cap-and-trade program to gradually reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Furthermore, it is easier for a minority to block a legislation in the Senate than in the House.

President Barack Obama regards fighting climate change as a priority and the House wishes to approve its version by August. The White House hopes that progress will assist efforts culminating in Copenhagen, Denmark this December for new international agreement on reducing industrial emissions related to climate change.

May 21st, 2009.

Democrats intend to push ACES ahead.

Democratic leaders have hinted that they wish to push the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 (ACES) ahead. To date, the House speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has indicated that she wants the act in the House this year whereas the Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday said that he is keen to have the bill ready to be presented to the floor either in late June or July. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the House Majority Whip claimed last week that he could obtain the necessary 218 votes to pass the climate change legislation.^[70]

The Waxman-Markey’s ACES bill has been referred by House parliamentarians to a total of nine committees:

House Energy and Commerce

House Foreign Affairs

House Financial Services

House Education and Labor

House Science and Technology

House Transportation and Infrastructure

House Agriculture

House Ways and Means

House Natural Resources

Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has said that his committee will not hold the bill up but would like to look closer at the new carbon market enforcement, a matter that he trusts can be quickly resolved.

The House Education and Labor Committee is “largely going to waive jurisdiction” according to the chairman’s spokesperson, Aaron Albright. Whereas House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar had said he has not studied the issue yet.

Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) of House Science and Technology Committee yesterday mentioned that he intends to conclude the ACES bill’s adaptation provisions post-Memorial Day recess. His committee is scheduled to mark up H.R.2407 on June 3rd that would pave the way for the establishment of a National Climate Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.^[71]

Climate bill mark up nearing conclusion.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee is close to conclude the intense debate on the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 (ACES) today after both House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman and Republican ranking member Joe Barton agreed to move at a faster pace.^[72]

Chairman Waxman possesses the majority support on the panel to call for a final vote and agreed to hold at least another hearing after the recess to deliberate further the allocation procedures for emission credits to businesses. Chairman Waxman also commands the panel’s majority support to move the bill to the full House with the possibility that several Democrats will demand changes including easing the legislation’s cap-and-trade 2020 emission reduction goal.

The committee also defeated, 26-29, an amendment put forward by Energy and Environment Subcommittee ranking member Fred Upton (R-Mich.) that would have expanded the mandate to any low pollution energy sources which would have render hydroelectricity, nuclear and potentially-cleaner coal technology to be inclusive in the mandate.

Healthcare legislation more important than climate change –Rangel.

The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel yesterday said that the healthcare is more important than the climate change legislation currently undergoing intense marking up process by the Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee this week.^[73]

Rep. Rangel (D-NY) said that he is uncertain as to when his panel would be able to examine the climate change bill as the healthcare plan is a priority will be “as long as it takes” but added “maybe at some point, we can do both at the same time”. He also agreed with some Ways and Means Democrat members in expressing concerns regarding a possible carbon market, as suggested in the climate bill.

In response, the House E&C Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman is not alarmed and believed that it is possible for the House to complete a climate and energy bill this summer.

As the mark up process is inching along slowly, the cap-and-trade plan is the centre of contentions as almost all committee Republicans claimed the cap-and-trade plan to be unworkable. The E&C committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) has declined to negotiate with the Democrats on the matter.

May 20th, 2009.

Attempt to boost nuclear power dismissed.

The House E&C Committee members rejected, 30-26, an amendment put forward by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla) to ignore nuclear power from the baseline electricity sales in measuring renewable electricity generation increments in the climate change bill.^[74] The bill which is currently being mark up, only excludes new nuclear power from that baseline calculation.

Peterson expresses concerns over the Climate change bill.

The House Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson said yesterday that he would like the American Clean and Security Act 2009 currently in a marking up process to be sent to his committee next month.^[75]

Chairman Peterson also points out that he has a long list of concerns to be addressed including the renewable fuel standard measure, before lending support to the bill and that he does not support any carbon credit trading on Wall Street.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Committee ranking member Frank Lucas with a group of fellow rural House Republicans, regard the climate change bill to be “national energy tax” that is potentially harmful to rural America. Rep. Lucas and other Republicans supported Chairman Peterson’s renewable fuels bill.

May 19th, 2009.

Republicans preparing amendments to the Climate Change bill.

As the marking up process of the American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 (ACES) is currently underway, the House Panel’s Republicans have stated that they are preparing amendments to the legislation, which they regard to be economically infeasible. The House E&C committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) claimed that the Republicans possess “lots” of amendments that could make it difficult to meet Congressman Waxman's deadline.^[76]

The Republicans also appear to abandon their delaying tactics, as the one used during the debate on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) several months ago, where they demanded the bill to be read in its entirety, a prerequisite that is almost always waived during a mark up process.

The fate of this legislation still hinges on the balance as several committee members such as Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.). Rep. Inslee stated that the bill should include a comprehensive plan to allocate an electricity transmission network and together with the former chairman of the E&C committee, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), to work on the establishment of a bank investing in clean energy projects. On the other hand, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Calif.) stressed last week that she is not immediately opposing the cap-and-trade solution.

May 15th, 2009.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced “The American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009” (H.R.2454) today with the aim of creating clean energy, achieving energy independence, reduction in global warming pollution and conversion to a clean energy economy. The Committee will proceed with the markup process of the 932-page bill on Monday, 18th May 2009.

Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Subcommittee Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the bill with compromises in certain aspects, to garner broad support on a sensitive issue that runs through regional and party politics.

H.R.2454 Summary document available here

Chronological list of markup summary documents is listed below

A summary for May 21 (Day 4) markup

A summary for May 20 (Day 3) markup

A summary for May 19 (Day 2)markup

A summary for May 18 (Day 1) markup

[edit] THE SENATE

November 5th, 2009.

Democrats reported out the Kerry-Boxer (S.1733) climate bill.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Democrats passed a 959-page climate bill (S.1733 Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act) on Thursday without any participation by Republicans that revealed a deep partisan division, using a procedural move that could jeopardise possible support from moderate lawmakers if the bill reach the floor.^[77]

The vote was 11-1 with Senator Max Baucus of Montana (D-MT)voted in opposition. All seven Republican committee members did not attend meetings this week citing insuffiecient time to peruse the bill and demanded the US EPA to study the measure's economic costs-benefits. However, Senator Boxer pointed out that there is a preliminary analysis of the bill by the EPA and further study would not be neccesary.

Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the Republican ranking committee member stated that "I am deeply disappointed by Chairman Boxer’s decision to violate the rules and longstanding precedent of the committee. The Republicans offered a clear path forward to a bipartisan markup, but it was summarily rejected by Chairman Boxer."^[78]

October 29th, 2009.

Boxer wants Tuesday mark up.

Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) hopes to mark up the climate change in her committee, this Tuesday. "It is our intention, as of now, to mark up Tuesday," said a senior aide.^[79]

The Kerry-Boxer bill is supported by all committee Democrats except Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), whose committee also has jurisdiction over the legislation. The measure does not enjoy committee Republicans support.

October 27th, 2009.

Climate change hearings begin.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee initiates a three-day long hearings on the Kerry-Boxer climate change bill thay would require U.S. energy utilities, refineries and factories to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 20% between 2012-2020.

The White House and Democratic leaders in Congress are hoping for a quicker legislative process on climate change this year with possible enactment before a new round of international summit on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark later this year.

September 30th, 2009.

Boxer and Kerry unveiled the Senate climate change bill.

Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-Ma.) introduced the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act "to create clean energy jobs, reduce pollution, and protect American security by enhancing domestic energy production and combating global climate change."

The legislation would also "cut carbon pollution and stimulate the economy by creating millions of jobs in the clean energy sector" (Please read the Press Release)

The Senate measure is stronger than the House version passed in June, which calls for 17% emission reduction and the Administration demands of 14% cuts. The Senate's 821-page bill also propose investments in energy infrastructure, clean energy technology, nuclear power research and development as well as green energy development.

Please read these related documents:

• An overview of the bill
• A summary of the bill
• Sectioned summary of the bill
• The bill in full text
• Pollution Reduction and Investment (PRI) provision within the bill

July 29th, 2009.

Senators passed S.1436 Appropriations Act.

The Senate had approved the $34 billion S.1436 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Fiscal Year 2010) by a vote of 85 to 9. The text of the Senate measure has been included in the House-approved bill H.R. 3183 and a conference will commence between the two chambers to look into any differences in the bill.

July 27th, 2009.

Debate on a $34.3 billion appropriations bill began.

The Senate began debating the $34.3 billion S.1436 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act bill for 2010 fiscal year as a coalition of environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Enviromental Defense Fund and eight others was urging amendments they claimed to be crucial to protect wetlands and fish populations near the Mississippi River in Missouri. A letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), dated July 23rd.^[80]

In general, the Senate appropriations bill would allocate:

• $27.4 billion to the Department of Energy

• $5.4 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers

• $1.1 billion to the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation

The enviromentalists want the Senate to remove two bill riders which would transfer $3.9 million from a fish population restoration program in southern Missouri to the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, for flood management.

Numbers in a glance.

Department of Energy:

• $5.76 billion for cleanup of DOE nuclear sites.

• $761 million for nuclear energy programs.

• Approximately $700 million for fossil energy programs.

• $2.23 billion into renewable and energy efficiency programs. Higher than $1.93 billion for fiscal year 2009 but is lower than the White House $2.32 billion request.

• Includes $190 million for hydrogen programs.

• Three multidisciplinary "energy innovation hubs" instead of eight proposed by the DOE. The programs are Fuels From Sunlight, Energy Efficient Building Systems and another one focusing on modeling and simulation.

• $4.9 billion for the Office of Science.

Army Corps

• In general, $5.4 billion for civil works but no funding for new projects.

• Is $280 million higher than the White House request but slightly lower than the $5.5 billion bill passed by the House.

• $340 million for flood-damage reduction initiatives in the Mississippi River Valley, $89 million higher than the House version.

Bureau of Reclamation:

• $1.1 billion allocated to the Bureau. Significantly $93 million and $110 million than the House version and the White House request respectively.

• $73 million more to the water account, totaling $993 million for water management and restoration in 17 Western states.

• $41 million for California Bay-Delta Restoration.

• $35 million for Central Valley Project Restoration Fund.

July 9th, 2009.

Senate's ACES markup deadline changed slightly.

Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid and the White House changed the duedate for the ACES bill in the Senate to allow possible submission to President Obama later this year.Reid forwarded the Sept 18 deadline by 10 days for all 6 committees to assess the bill and put their marks where neccessary before being presented to the floor.^[81]

The White House climate czar Carol Browner has reiterated the Administration's preference to have ACES as a law before the nation enters new UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark later this year.

Other Senate panels' chairmen have expressed confidence of meeting the new Sept 28 deadline.

July 7th, 2009

ACES in the Senate

The American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act 2009 which was passed by the House with a slim margin late last month is currently being examined in the Senate. The Senate will take a closer look at the House legislation especially several controversial issues including the approval of electricity transmission lines.

As witnessed during the bill’s journey through the House, intense negotiations and concessions are to be expected in the Senate. Democratic Senate leaders believe they can draw on the experience of their House counterparts.^[82]

The first point of call for ACES was the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Committee's Key Players:

• • Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
  • Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK)

The White House has sent four top officials to persuade the Senate to pass the legislation. Testifying before the panel, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “Denial of the climate change problem will not change our destiny”.

Secretary Chu was accompanied to the Senate hearing by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Administrator Lisa Jackson. They all reiterated the possible danger posed by climate change and the long-term economic benefits of halting heat-trapping gases emissions.^[83]

Apart from the Environment and Public Works Committee, five other Senate committees are due to examine the climate bill: Agriculture; Energy and Natural Resources; Finance; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Foreign Relations Committees.

June 24th, 2009.

Senate monitoring House's ACES progress.

In light of of the deal reached between the House panel chairmen on the Waxman bill, the Senate is understood to be watching closely what is happening in the House particularly in deal arrangements with skeptical Democrats and moderate Republicans. "Their success and failure can really set the tone for what we can do," said Senate Majority Whip Durbin.^[84]

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer has emphasized that a bill her panel is currently drawing up will form the foundations for whatever would be initially pursued in the Senate. However, she noted that it would be easier for the Senate to make deals with skeptical Midwestern and rural Democrats as well as moderate Republicans by following the House's footsteps.

Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid shortly after the upcoming recess is again scheduled to gather a group of committee chairmen including Boxer, Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry and Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman as well as Sen. Debbie Stabenow, (D-Mich.)and for the first time, Agriculture Chairman Tom Harkin to discuss a climate change legislation.

June 17th, 2009.

Energy package approved by Senate panel.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved it huge energy package today by 15-8 vote, where four Republicans supported and opposed by two Democrats.^[85]

Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman said he would leave it to Majority Leader Harry Reid whether to include the measure in cap-and-trade bill or move it as a singular legislation as well as scheduling. The bill's future is unpredictable as environmental-concerned Democrats are opposed to the expansion of oil and gas drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Republicans are not keen on a renewable fuel standard.

June 12th, 2009.

Boxer signaled ACES mark up before August

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, for the first time Thursday made a clear indication that her panel intends to mark up the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) bill without any major changes, before the August recess.^[86]

Chairwoman Boxer is planning to hold several hearings on the subject and possibly on the bill itself, next month. She waited for the House Democratic leaders to act in order to utilise their deal-making with other various Democrats, ensuring the ease to secure fillibuster-proof 60 votes.

Meanwhile, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman said that he, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and President Barack Obama have agreed that it is necessary to introduce the ACES bill to the floor before Independence Day recess, hence allowing lawmakers to concentrate on healthcare afterwards.

May 2009.

At the end of May, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee began marking up a massive energy package. Subjects of the bill include nuclear waste, cybersecurity, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, building efficiency codes, a renewable energy standard, and large-scale carbon capture and sequestration demonstration projects. Thus far, the majority of committee Republicans oppose the proposed Renewable Energy Standard because it does not include nuclear power or hydroelectricity in the definition of renewable energy resources. Here's the draft Renewable Energy Standard as of May 18, 2009. Other drafts of portions of the bill are here.

The Senate is currently monitoring how the House is handling the climate change bill and it may adopt the House version of the legislation. The Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said "That's important ... because the House had the same problems we have in the Senate".^[87]

Earlier in May, Senator Reid stated that the health care reform would be easier to pass than a climate change bill and regards the climate change legislation to be the most challenging issue before the 2010 elections.^[88]

[edit] OTHER RELATED DEVELOPMENTS

September 30th, 2009

EPA suggests curbs on industrial greenhouse emissions

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) revealed a detailed proposal to use the government regulatory powers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson in a keynote address at the California Governor’s Global Climate Summit today, announced that "By using the power and authority of the Clean Air Act, we can begin reducing emissions from the nation’s largest greenhouse gas emitting facilities without placing an undue burden on the businesses that make up the vast majority of our economy,” She also added “This is a common sense rule that is carefully tailored to apply to only the largest sources -- those from sectors responsible for nearly 70 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions sources. This rule allows us to do what the Clean Air Act does best – reduce emissions for better health, drive technology innovation for a better economy, and protect the environment for a better future – all without placing an undue burden on the businesses that make up the better part of our economy.”

The proposed regulations would only apply to large-scale industrial sources of greenhouse gases including power plants, refineries and factories but not to smaller emitters such as new schools, as some critics of had argued. Read the full text speech by the EPA Administrator.

$100 billion annually for climate change - world leaders

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has said that many world leaders have expressed support for $100 billion to be allocated annually for the next decade to combat climate change and assist countries to cope with its impacts.^[89]

"At long last, leaders focused on climate change financing and got more concrete, with many expressing support for the proposal for $100 billion annually over the next decade" for concrete actions to cut emissions and help nations deal with climate change issues such as floods, drought and extreme temperatures, Ban said. He initially proposed a $250 billion per annum in letters sent to the leaders of 20 leading economies during the G-20 talks in Pittsburgh, but the sum of $100 billion was considered as a good start.

Meanwhile, the Phillipines which has hit by the tropical storm Ketsana, has strongly urged the rich, developed countries to cut greenhouse gases emissions. Ketsana brought the heaviest rain and cause the worst flooding in the capital Manila, in more than 4 decades, killing 246 people and affecting another 2 million residents. The storm continues to wreak havoc as it moved to Indo-china.^[90]

September 20th, 2009

Europe doubt American climate commitment.

European leaders who are gathering in New York for a high-level climate change conference, have expressed concern about the United States position in international negotiations, gearing towards a new international agreement in Denmark this December.^[91]

Ahead of this week's talk at the United Nations and later in Pittsburgh for the G-20 economic conference,the Europeans pointed out to what they perceived as a lack of American political will and have little hope that the U.S. Senate would pass the climate bill before the Copenhagen talks commence. Ambassador John Bruton, head of the European Commission Delegation to the U.S. warned last week that should the Senate unable to approve the bill before the summit in Denmark, "it would open the United States to the charge that it does not take its international commitments seriously, and that these commitments will always take second place to domestic politics,".^[92]

The White House is trying to satisfy the Europeans with firm timetables and goals, while at the same time to reassure the Senate that it is not entering a rigid system that would harm the American economy which excludes developing industrialising countries like India and China.

May 21st, 2009

Calif., EPA biofuel costs analyses challenged.

The analytical models employed by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board was challenged as flawed and unscientific by the biofuels industry. Renewable fuels industry officials informed the House Agriculture Committee that the models used to evaluate whether American corn ethanol production leads to changes in land utilisation in other countries are flawed and that the agencies also failed to impose the same standards to other transportation fuels.

However, the Obama administration officials have reiterated that the EPA is planning a scientific peer review on indirect land use.^[93]

May 19th, 2009

Revised Climate Change bill cost less to the public and businesses –EPA.

A preliminary analysis by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) found that the cost of the cap-and-trade program within the American Clean and Security Act 2009 is relatively less than the initial draft bill, which was introduced by the Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and the Energy & Environment Subcommittee Chairman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) before Easter.^[94]

The revised legislation lowered 2020 emission targets cuts from 20% to 17% and provisions to assist the oil & utility sectors, manufacturers and low-income consumers.

May 18th, 2009.

The Climate change bill not strong enough -Greenpeace.

Greenpeace today regarded the newly introduced American Clean Energy and Security Act 2009 (ACES) as weak and in a relatively worse state than the discussion draft released in March this year. Greenpeace USA Executive Director Phil Radford stated that “We cannot support this bill in its current state” and called for President Obama and Congress leaders to work on a better alternative.^[95]

[edit] Endnotes

1. ↑ LA Times, December 18th, 2009."In Copenhagen, Obama urges action"http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fgw-obama-climate19-2009dec19,0,1135926.story
2. ↑ LA Times, December 17th, 2009."U.S. pledge, signal from China spur hope for climate deal"http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-us-climate18-2009dec18,0,3752887.story
3. ↑ AFP, December 16th, 2009."Copenhagen deal crucial for US to act:Kerry"http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091216/pl_afp/unclimatewarminguskerry
4. ↑ Washington Post, December 10th, 2009."In Copenhagen, U.S. pushes for emissions cuts from China, developing nations."http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/09/AR2009120904596.html
5. ↑ Politico, December 16th, 2009."Lindsey Graham and Carol Browner meet on climate bill"http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30687.html
6. ↑ The Hill, Dec 8th 2009."Sen. Kerry:Reid to start climate debate after finishing financial reform bill"http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/71335-kerry-reid-to-start-climate-debate-after-financial-reform
7. ↑ Politico, Dec 2nd 2009."Kerry still optimistic on climate talks"http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30142.html
8. ↑ Reuters, Nov 16th 2009."Democrats aim for climate bill by early 2010".http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AF57N20091116
9. ↑ Politico, Nov 16th 2009."Jim Webb bails on cap-and-trade" http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29582.html
10. ↑ The Hill, Nov 13th, 2009."Bloc of Senate Democrats demands changes to climate change legislation."http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/67671-bloc-of-senate-dems-demands-climate-bill-changes-in-letter-to-leaders
11. ↑ "US Senate to bring climate framework to Copenhagen:Kerry".AFP, Nov 10th, 2009.http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091110/pl_afp/climatewarmingunuscongress
12. ↑ "Republican Senator says open to U.S. Climate Bill" NY Times, Oct 17th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/10/17/us/politics/politics-us-climate-usa-murkowski.html?_r=1
13. ↑ Press Release, Oct 13th 2009. http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=4fd9e448-802a-23ad-4e6f-661f14cec15d
14. ↑ "Uphill climb to 60 votes on climate bill" Politico, Oct 11th, 2009 http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=4471799C-18FE-70B2-A8ED28D5FBD03257
15. ↑ "Senators seek job creation, protection in climate bill" McClatchy, October 7th, 2009. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/76752.html
16. ↑ "Report highlights deforestation" Politico, October 7th, 2009. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=2B8F7E14-18FE-70B2-A85E6CA43588E006
17. ↑ "Boxer hopeful for climate bill this year despite drawn-out health debate" The Hill, Oct 6th,2009.http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/61819-boxer-hopeful-for-climate-bill-this-year-despite-drawn-out-health-debate
18. ↑ "Climate bill signing 'Not going to happen' by Copenhagen -Browner" NY Times, Oct 2nd, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/10/02/02climatewire-climate-bill-signing-not-going-to-happen-by-49427.html
19. ↑ "Senate climate change-bill calls for 20% cut is greenhouse emissions by 2020" LA Times, Sept 29th 2009. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate30-2009sep30,0,128921.story
20. ↑ Boston Globe, Sept 23rd 2009. "PG&E rejects U.S. Chamber of Commerce position on climate change". http://www.reuters.com/article/mnCarbonEmissions/idUS155108657720090923
21. ↑ AFP, August 31st, 2009."US senators see climate bill delay".http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090831/pl_afp/climateenergyuspoliticssenate_20090831210955
22. ↑ News Star, August 26th, 2009."Landrieu says she would likely oppose government insurance option".http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090826/UPDATES01/90826020
23. ↑ Reuters, August 20th, 2009."U.S. to end 'clunker' rebates on August 24th".http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/08/20/business/business-us-autos-usa-clunkers.html
24. ↑ Bloomberg, August 14thth 2009."Climate-change measure should be set aside, U.S. Senators say".http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=ah3CTKEw4HQc
25. ↑ The Hill, August 14th, 2009."Vitter:Climate-change evidence often 'ridiculous pseudo-science garbage'".http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/08/14/vitter-climate-change-evidence-often-ridiculous-pseudo-science-garbage/
26. ↑ The Hill, August 14th, 2009."Vitter:Climate-change evidence often 'ridiculous pseudo-science garbage'".http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/08/14/vitter-climate-change-evidence-often-ridiculous-pseudo-science-garbage/
27. ↑ NY Times, August 8, 2009."Climate change seen as threat to U.S. security." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/science/earth/09climate.html
28. ↑ AP, August 7th, 2009."Obama signs 'cash-for-clunkers' extension into law".http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_on_go_co/us_cash_for_clunkers_157
29. ↑ AP, August 5th, 2009."Senate to consider $2B 'clunkers' refill" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_go_co/us_cash_for_clunkers
30. ↑ The Hill, August 4th, 2009."Reid confidently predicts Senate will extend 'clunkers' program".http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/08/04/reid-confidently-predicts-senate-will-extend-clunkers-program/
31. ↑ CQPolitics, August 4th, 2009."Senate will save 'clunkers' program, Reid says"http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003186385
32. ↑ Reuters, July 24th,2009."Healthcare delay may complicate climate debate."http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BarackObama/idUKTRE56M6S220090724
33. ↑ CongressDaily,July 24th, 2009."Moderate GOP Senators:Climate timeline too ambitious".http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090724_3485.php
34. ↑ CongressDaily, July 23rd, 2009."Consumer groups come together to lobby climae bill".http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090723_2911.php
35. ↑ Reuters,July 16th, 2009."Energy-intensive industry wants more CO2 permits".http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE56F5JM20090716
36. ↑ Mufson, S."Obama hails climate bill, hopes for some changes".Washington Post,June 28th, 2009.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062801229.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
37. ↑ Mufson, S."Obama hails climate bill, hopes for some changes".Washington Post,June 28th, 2009.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062801229.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
38. ↑ Broder, J.M. "Obama warns against trade penalties in energy bill".New York Times, June 28th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/us/politics/29climate.html?hp
39. ↑ Goode,Darren et al."White House pushing on climate bill".CongressDaily, June 25th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090625_6428.php
40. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Most enviro groups push for Waxman bill".CongressDaily,June 24, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090624_5472.php
41. ↑ Snyder, Jim."Coal lobby fights back on climate".The Hill,June 18, 2009.http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/coal-lobby-fights-back-on-climate-bill-2009-06-18.html
42. ↑ CongressDaily, June 16, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/hbp_20090616_2673.php
43. ↑ Goode,Darren et al."Groups step up climate campaigns".CongressDaily, June 9th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090609_7980.php
44. ↑ Goode, Darren."Climate bill would reduce federal deficit, says CBO".CongressDaily, June 7th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cd_20090607_9115.php
45. ↑ LA Times, August 1st, 2009."House OKs $2 billion more for 'cash for clunkers"http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-clunkers-deal1-2009aug01,0,4715226.story
46. ↑ Chicago Tribune, August 2nd, 2009."House OKs $2 billion more for 'cash for clunkers"http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-fi-cash-for-clunkers1-2009aug01,0,6917019.story?track=rss
47. ↑ "House climate bill passes by slim margin".LA Times,June 27th, 2009.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate27-2009jun27,0,5568426.story
48. ↑ "House climate bill passes by slim margin".LA Times,June 27th, 2009.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate27-2009jun27,0,5568426.story
49. ↑ "House passes bill to address threat of climate change".NY Times, June 27th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?_r=2&hp
50. ↑ "House passes bill to address threat of climate change".NY Times, June 27th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?_r=2&hp
51. ↑ "House climate bill passes by slim margin".LA Times,June 27th, 2009.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate27-2009jun27,0,5568426.story
52. ↑ "House climate bill passes by slim margin".LA Times,June 27th, 2009.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate27-2009jun27,0,5568426.story
53. ↑ "House passes bill to address threat of climate change".NY Times, June 27th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?_r=2&hp
54. ↑ Goode,Darren et al."House prepares for photo finish on climate change bill".CongressDaily,June 26th,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090626_7154.php
55. ↑ "House passes bill to address threat of climate change".NY Times, June 27th, 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?_r=2&hp
56. ↑ Goode,Darren et al."House Democrats see 218 votes for energy showdown".CongressDaily,June 24th,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090624_7385.php
57. ↑ Broder,John."Energy bill unfinished but vote nears".N.Y.Times,June 23 2009.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/science/earth/24energy.html?_r=1&em
58. ↑ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate24-2009jun24,0,3209124.story
59. ↑ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24108.html
60. ↑ Goode,Darren."Climate change debate unlikely next week".CongressDaily, June 19, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cd_20090619_2387.php
61. ↑ Master, Cyra."House GOP blasts pace of climate measure".CongressDaily, June 19,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090619_6660.php
62. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Waxman thinks he is close to a deal".CongressDaily,June 19, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090619_5642.php
63. ↑ Goode, Darren."Pelosi seeks votes,courts GOP moderates.CongressDaily, June 18,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090618_8818.php
64. ↑ Goode,Darren."Key chairmen haven't agreed on changes in climate bill.CongressDaily,June 18,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090618_6362.php
65. ↑ Goode, Darren."House Democrats near impasse as climate talks intensify."June 11, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090611_5788.php
66. ↑ Goode,Darren et al."Groups step up climate campaigns".CongressDaily, June 9th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090609_7980.php
67. ↑ Cohn, Peter et al."'Buy American' is back- In climate bill".CongressDaily, June 5th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090605_4178.php
68. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Pelosi:June 19 deadline for climate flexible". CongressDaily, June 4th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090604_1656.php
69. ↑ Goode, Darren."Panel completes climate marathon".CongressDaily,May 22, 2009. http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090522_3692.php
70. ↑ Samuelsohn, Darren."House Dem chairmen preview a summer of maneuvering on climate bill".ClimateWire, May 21,2009.http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/05/21/21climatewire-house-dem-chairmen-preview-a-summer-of-maneu-10572.html
71. ↑ Samuelsohn, Darren."House Dem chairmen preview a summer of maneuvering on climate bill".ClimateWire, May 21,2009.http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/05/21/21climatewire-house-dem-chairmen-preview-a-summer-of-maneu-10572.html
72. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Waxman aims to conclude marathon mark up later today".CongressDaily, May 21,2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090521_2977.php
73. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Rangel:Health takes priority over climate".CongressDaily, May 21,2009. http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090521_1118.php
74. ↑ "Panel rejects attempt to boost nuclear power" CongressDaily May 20, 2009 http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/hbp_20090520_7815.php
75. ↑ Hagstrom, Jerry."Peterson raises concerns about House climate measure".CongressDaily, May 20,2009 http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090520_4822.php
76. ↑ Goode, Darren."House Panel's Republicans ready climate amendments" CongressDaily, May 19,2009 http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090519_7189.php
77. ↑ NY Times, Nov 5th 2009. Democrats Push Climate Bill through panel without G.O.P debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/us/politics/06climate.html?_r=1
78. ↑ Press Release,Nov 5th 2009, http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=c4ec933f-802a-23ad-4a8c-ce4fb68c9650
79. ↑ Washington Post, Oct 29th 2009."Boxer aims for Tuesday mark-up on climate bill.http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/10/by_juliet_eilperin_senate_envi.html
80. ↑ NY Times, July 27th, 2009."Senate begins debate on $34billion energy and water appropriations bill" http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/27/27greenwire-senate-begins-debate-on-343b-energy-and-water-89580.html?scp=1&sq=S1436%20Senate%20appropriations%20bill&st=cse
81. ↑ CongressDaily, July 9th, 2009."Reid pushes back deadline for climate markups a bit".http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090709_6017.php
82. ↑ LA Times,July 6th, 2009."Climate battle moves to the Senate".http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate6-2009jul06,0,6281299.story
83. ↑ Scientific American, July 7th, 2009."Climate battle underway in Senate".http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=climate-eneregy-bill-administration-senate
84. ↑ Goode, Darren."Waxman, Peterson have a climate deal".CongressDaily, June 24th, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090624_1471.php
85. ↑ CongressDaily, June 17, 2009http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/hbp_20090617_8022.php
86. ↑ Goode,Darren."Boxer considers climate markup before August recess."June 12, 2009.http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090612_2392.php
87. ↑ Goode, Darren et al."Waxman, Barton wooing same set of of coal-state Dems for their climate plans".http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cda_20090515_9272.php CongressDaily, May 15, 2009.
88. ↑ Yoest, Patrick."US Sen Reid:Health bill easier to pass than climate change". http://www.coalition4healthcare.org/fs/global:module/xq6x80cazfxil6/article/list/release.php?id=xy4wg0546glji5 Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2009.
89. ↑ AP, Sept 30th, 2009. "Many support $100 billion a year on climate change" http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jqJmnNVzfiUOeSlVG4f8nQMbwQYQD9B1ENMG0
90. ↑ AFP Sept. 30th, 2009. "Phillipine urge rich nations to act on climate change" http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hXIs6918g2Xy4cHwhIF8e3eOpL0Q
91. ↑ NY Times, Sept 20th, 2009. "European leaders doubt U.S. climate commitment". http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/world/europe/21climate.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=us
92. ↑ LA Times, Sept 21st, 2009. "Obama to shift focus to climate change" http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate21-2009sep21,0,7997842.story
93. ↑ "Biofuels industry challenged Calif., EPA analyses on costs".CongressDaily, May 21st, 2009 http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/hbp_20090521_6677.php
94. ↑ Goode,Darren."EPA- Revised panel drafts less costly to firms,consumers."CongressDaily, May 19,2009 http://www.nationaljournal.com/congressdaily/cdp_20090519_3608.php
95. ↑ Democrats pass bogus climate bill.http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/waxmanbill-180509