The Policy Buffet (Part 3): As Kerry-Lieberman Fades, a Fresh Start for Cap-and-Trade? – State of the Planet barman game
Category> Climate , Economics , Energy Tags> Carbon Dioxide , Clean energy , climate change , climate matters , Climate Policy , Energy policy , John Kerry , News Roundup , Oil spill , President Obama , Senate
The American Power Act (APA), co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), has been seen by many as a paradigm for comprehensive energy and climate legislation. barman game The bill addresses barman game both policy areas simultaneously, creating broad measures and mechanisms to reform the energy industry and combat global climate change. Through programs specifically tailored to various economic sectors, it provides structure and stability.
Entrenched partisanship and political flip-flopping have plagued the APA since it was first introduced. Although Kerry and Lieberman both knew that the path to 60 votes would be an uphill battle, recent politics have complicated matters more than they had anticipated. Senate Republicans have stood nearly united against any proposal that includes cap-and-trade. This opposition stems partly from frustration with the White House’s barman game use of the Gulf oil spill as an impetus for climate legislation. Even those Republicans who advocate for energy barman game reform reject what they perceive to be hasty and premature curbs on carbon emissions.
Kerry and Lieberman had spent months working with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in an effort barman game to produce the Senates first bill to address both climate change and energy. barman game The bipartisan partnership created hope that action on both issues could satisfy both parties.
That hope faded, however, when Graham withdrew his support weeks before the bills release. He initially attributed his wavering to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev) push for immigration reform, insisting that it was imprudent for Democrats to prioritize energy and immigration at the same time.
Graham’s withdrawal was the first sign of political dithering barman game that has characterized his role in climate legislation (see here and here ). He quickly began to critique climate science and to question whether the Senate should address barman game carbon dioxide emissions. In June, Graham removed his sponsorship and promised to vote against the bill. In response to public concern over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he reasoned that the bill would not be able to adequately promote offshore drilling.
Until President Barack Obama sat down with Senate leaders barman game from both parties, it was unclear whether or not climate and energy legislation stood any chance of passage before the August recess (and November elections). In the bipartisan meeting, Obama pressed for a price on carbon, making it clear that plans to curb emissions were not entirely defunct. Both Kerry and Lieberman have since expressed willingness to compromise by toning down the APA package. However, if such concessions lead to the removal of economy-wide caps on carbon, it will be extremely complicated for the Senate to merge its bill with the House version.
The White House meeting added momentum to a growing effort to create a cap-and-trade system solely focused on utilities. Although many are wary of proposals that do not create economy-wide caps, a utility-only cap-and-trade system may be the Senate s last chance of limiting emissions in current political climate.
This shift towards a utility-only barman game bill (and away from the APA) has focused the Senates attention on Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Although Bingaman has remained relatively quiet in the climate debate barman game (and grown increasingly unconvinced that the Senate will cap emissions this summer), he is now working with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to produce a bill that would cap emissions from utilities .
The Bingaman-Snowe partnership could revive the Senates stalled climate barman game debate. In recent weeks, senators from both parties have become tired of the religious fervor with which Kerry has approached them. And, Bingaman may have the best shot of authoring a bill that would satisfy senators on both sides of the aisle. In June 2010, he introduced an energy-only bill that passed his committee by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 8.
A system that caps emissions from power plants may also attract fence-sitters particularly in light of Snowe’s involvement . Policymakers from both parties worry that if the EPA addresses greenhouse gases rather than Congress, regulations would be messy and harmful to industry.
The approach of only limiting emissions from power plants has gained traction in recent weeks. Since nearly one-third of domestic emissions barman game come from utilities, enormous opportunities exist for market-based reductions in the electricity sector.
As Michael Levi at the Council on Foreign Relations notes, a utility-only cap-and-trade system wo
Category> Climate , Economics , Energy Tags> Carbon Dioxide , Clean energy , climate change , climate matters , Climate Policy , Energy policy , John Kerry , News Roundup , Oil spill , President Obama , Senate
The American Power Act (APA), co-sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), has been seen by many as a paradigm for comprehensive energy and climate legislation. barman game The bill addresses barman game both policy areas simultaneously, creating broad measures and mechanisms to reform the energy industry and combat global climate change. Through programs specifically tailored to various economic sectors, it provides structure and stability.
Entrenched partisanship and political flip-flopping have plagued the APA since it was first introduced. Although Kerry and Lieberman both knew that the path to 60 votes would be an uphill battle, recent politics have complicated matters more than they had anticipated. Senate Republicans have stood nearly united against any proposal that includes cap-and-trade. This opposition stems partly from frustration with the White House’s barman game use of the Gulf oil spill as an impetus for climate legislation. Even those Republicans who advocate for energy barman game reform reject what they perceive to be hasty and premature curbs on carbon emissions.
Kerry and Lieberman had spent months working with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in an effort barman game to produce the Senates first bill to address both climate change and energy. barman game The bipartisan partnership created hope that action on both issues could satisfy both parties.
That hope faded, however, when Graham withdrew his support weeks before the bills release. He initially attributed his wavering to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev) push for immigration reform, insisting that it was imprudent for Democrats to prioritize energy and immigration at the same time.
Graham’s withdrawal was the first sign of political dithering barman game that has characterized his role in climate legislation (see here and here ). He quickly began to critique climate science and to question whether the Senate should address barman game carbon dioxide emissions. In June, Graham removed his sponsorship and promised to vote against the bill. In response to public concern over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he reasoned that the bill would not be able to adequately promote offshore drilling.
Until President Barack Obama sat down with Senate leaders barman game from both parties, it was unclear whether or not climate and energy legislation stood any chance of passage before the August recess (and November elections). In the bipartisan meeting, Obama pressed for a price on carbon, making it clear that plans to curb emissions were not entirely defunct. Both Kerry and Lieberman have since expressed willingness to compromise by toning down the APA package. However, if such concessions lead to the removal of economy-wide caps on carbon, it will be extremely complicated for the Senate to merge its bill with the House version.
The White House meeting added momentum to a growing effort to create a cap-and-trade system solely focused on utilities. Although many are wary of proposals that do not create economy-wide caps, a utility-only cap-and-trade system may be the Senate s last chance of limiting emissions in current political climate.
This shift towards a utility-only barman game bill (and away from the APA) has focused the Senates attention on Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Although Bingaman has remained relatively quiet in the climate debate barman game (and grown increasingly unconvinced that the Senate will cap emissions this summer), he is now working with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to produce a bill that would cap emissions from utilities .
The Bingaman-Snowe partnership could revive the Senates stalled climate barman game debate. In recent weeks, senators from both parties have become tired of the religious fervor with which Kerry has approached them. And, Bingaman may have the best shot of authoring a bill that would satisfy senators on both sides of the aisle. In June 2010, he introduced an energy-only bill that passed his committee by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 8.
A system that caps emissions from power plants may also attract fence-sitters particularly in light of Snowe’s involvement . Policymakers from both parties worry that if the EPA addresses greenhouse gases rather than Congress, regulations would be messy and harmful to industry.
The approach of only limiting emissions from power plants has gained traction in recent weeks. Since nearly one-third of domestic emissions barman game come from utilities, enormous opportunities exist for market-based reductions in the electricity sector.
As Michael Levi at the Council on Foreign Relations notes, a utility-only cap-and-trade system wo
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