March 31st, 2009
First volley in the new American civil war: over climate change
A first draft of a climate change and energy efficiency bill has been introduced into Congress.
The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee released the first draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. emocratic leaders hope will it be voted on this summer. Bill co-sponsors are Rep. Henry Waxman (D), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward Markey (D), who chairs the Energy and Environment subcommittee. A huge wave of lobbying money is expected to be launched to kill or dilute the bill.
Among the proposed effects of the bill:
National renewable electricity mandate of 6 percent of power from in 2012 and 25 percent in 2025. This would be good news for greentech firms dealing in solar, wind, biomass, or geothermal generation.
The government would participate in a carbon-capture test project, perhaps rejuvenating the one the Bush Administration backed out of a year ago. That would have been built in Mattoon, Illinois.
A program to encourage utilities to work with customers to improve their energy efficiency.
Here’s some early reaction to the bill, opponents and supporters.
A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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