New Climate Bill Likely to be Unveiled in the U.S. Senate Next Week
This post was written by Ariel Nieland.
Based on news reports, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) plan to release a revised climate bill aimed at cutting U.S. industry emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases associated with global climate change. It may be unveiled as early as next week in time for Earth Day on April 22. A key issue raised in prior climate bills, which the new bill is not expected to address, is the creation of a national "cap and trade program" for managing greenhouse gases, such as the ones currently in place in the European Union to reduce greenhouse gases and in the U.S. to control acid rain-causing sulfur dioxide. The new climate bill will, however, likely provide for an overall cap on greenhouse gas emissions for certain utilities, with other industries to be phased in over time, as well as "a modest tax" on transportation fuels. The bill is also expected to incentivize construction of nuclear power plants, carbon capture and storage facilities, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, as well as oil and gas drilling.
