| May 21, 2009 |  |
House Committee Likely to Approve Climate and Energy Bill
Landmark Bill Would Cut Carbon Emissions, Science Groups Says, But Some Provisions Still Need Strengthening
WASHINGTON (May 21, 2009)—The House Energy and Commerce Committee is expected later today to approve a climate and energy bill that represents "a leap forward" in confronting the threat of climate change, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). By instituting a suite of complementary policies, the bill -- introduced by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.)—would reduce the heat-trapping emissions that cause global warming.
The bill generated support from a wide range of stakeholders, including environmental organizations and utility companies, UCS said, due in large part to the House committee members' efforts to hammer out a compromise. UCS's support for the bill, however, is tempered by the belief that specific provisions should be strengthened to bolster renewable energy and energy efficiency.
"This is a truly historic day," said Liz Perera, Washington representative at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). "House members, for the first time, will have the chance to vote on a comprehensive climate bill that would begin to ratchet down our carbon emissions. That said, certain provisions need improvement to better protect the environment and our pocketbooks."
The bill includes new appliance and building code standards that would cut energy demand. But, according to Alan Nogee, director of UCS's Clean Energy Program, the bill would go further to reduce energy costs if it provided more funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Instead the bill provides large subsidies to the coal industry for carbon capture and storage technology, which has not been shown to work on a commercial scale, and those subsidies would continue for decades regardless of how much such projects cost.
"The bill emphasizes capturing and storing coal plant carbon emissions instead of avoiding them in the first place," said Nogee. "We know that energy efficiency and renewables will reduce emissions by displacing coal power, so the question is: Why doesn't the bill provide more support for them?"
UCS experts also said the bill missed the opportunity to accelerate the development of low-carbon fuels and give consumers transportation options that would reduce their oil consumption. Instead the bill would give billions to the oil industry, which has made record profits in recent years. Additionally, UCS is troubled with provisions that would allow too many polluters to avoid cutting their own emissions by purchasing "offsets," which are reductions made by unregulated emitters.
UCS was pleased with a number of provisions in the bill, including one that would provide funding for tropical forest preservation. Another provision would require Congress and the administration to periodically review the latest climate science to ensure that the bill's provisions are still effectively addressing the problem. That provision, Perera said, should be strengthened to require Congress and the administration to act within a reasonable time frame after they review the science.
"Just this week the Obama administration showed strong leadership by announcing a plan to adopt the first ever national standards to cut global warming emissions from vehicles," Perera said. "Thanks to Henry Waxman, Ed Markey and their colleagues on the committee, Congress is now on track to follow suit, but both the House and Senate have to ensure that whatever they pass is as strong as possible."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
