US Senate Climate Bill - Cheat Sheet :: If you support US Climate Change Legislation then Call your Senators Today.

Received this in an email from Ocean Champions this AM:

Yesterday, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) released their version of a Climate Bill, called the American Power Act.

The bill is "balanced" to improve its chances, but by setting a path to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop renewable energy, it still represents a paradigm shift that would promote healthier oceans, drive economic and job growth and enable independence from foreign oil.

What we like:
* It mandates a 17% reduction in carbon pollution from 2005 levels by 2020, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050. Not as fast as many would like, but in line with the Climate Change bill (Waxman-Markey) passed by the US House of Representatives last year.

* It sets a price for carbon, with a $12 floor and a $25 ceiling (with each set to grow over time), which will improve investment in renewable energy.

* It allows carbon trading, but by a limited set of entities on a regulated exchange, allowing market forces to create pricing efficiency while limiting speculation.


What we don't like:
* It pre-empts states from implementing mandatory greenhouse gas reductions.

* It restricts the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

* Like the House Bill, it has the USDA, not the EPA regulating agriculture offsets.

* The biggest flaw - it doesn't ban new offshore drilling; disappointing, but not surprising, given national politics. (In response to the BP oil spill, the bill was changed to give "impacted" states the right to veto oil drilling plans of neighboring states, and allow states to veto any drilling within 75 miles off their coast.)


I also like (and trust) the Natural Resource Defense Council's analysis of the bill.

One of today's New York Times stories about the bill talks about "next steps".

If you support the concept of US climate change legislation (however imperfect the draft bill that Senators Kerry and Lieberman released yesterday may be), then please call your US Senators with the simple message - "pass the Kerry-Lieberman climate change bill." The Capitol Hill main switchboard number is 202.224.3121. Give the operator the name of your US Senator and ask to be transfered to their office.