IN THE HEADLINES
Political Developments- Three Senators forge ahead with bi-partisan climate change bill, "cap and trade"; is now replaced with "pollution reduction." But will it become law this year? READ MORE
- EPA delays GHG emission of some stationary sources (e.g. small generation plants) under intense pressure from some members of Congress and several states READ MORE
- Automobile fuel economy will increase with EPA poised to issue first ever regulation addressing GHG emissions from automobiles manufactured beginning with model year 2012. READ MORE
- Additional industries will soon be required to report GHG emissions to the EPA READ MORE
- Will a hunger-strike by one man compel the Canadian Parliament to pass the Climate Change Accountability Act? READ MORE
- Over 100 of the 193 COP 15 attendees have now lent their signature to the commitment agreed to in Copenhagen, but one of the largest emitters is still absent. And it isn’t China. READ MORE
- You
may soon be eligible for up to a $3000 rebate and other discounts
for making your home more energy efficient. READ MORE
- Looking for a safe route to bike from point A to B? Google has an answer.READ MORE
- Want to buy energy for your home from renewable sources? It may be easier than you think. READ MORE
Legislative Tracker
- Waxman Markey Bill: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 READ MORE
- Kerry-Boxer Bill: Clean Energy and American Power Act READ MORE
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Bi-Partisan Climate Change Bill
The bi-partisan framework to regulate GHG emissions advanced by Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Kerry (D-MA) is gaining some traction and momentum. They are expected to release their bill any day now, but according to various sources, their bill would start covering utility plants in 2012 and other industrial sources in 2016. It would also include a carbon tax on transportation fuels. The bill also includes a “price collar” of on allowance prices, meaning that business would have to pay somewhere between $10 and $30 per ton of GHG emission. Per the framework sent to President Obama in advance of the Copenhagen conference, the bill will include hard targets of reducing emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. Over half of the revenue from carbon allowances would be returned to consumers. The bill would pre-empt any regulation imposed by the US EPA or states, although there has been some discussion that Senator Kerry would negotiate an exemption for California which often imposes stricter environmental standards than other states. After the bill is made public, which is expected to take place by April 15, it would be sent to EPA for modeling analysis, which could take 5 weeks, and the Congressional Budget Office for an economic analysis.EPA delays implementation of GHG emission standards for most stationary sources
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, in response to concerns voiced by several senators about the economic impact of a proposed EPA regulation covering stationary sources (e.g. power plants, refineries, and cement production facilities), clarified that that only a limited number of stationary sources (some 400) will be required to comply with GHG emission standards in 2011 as part of their standard permitting process, and none would in 2010. Additional stationary sources will be covered by the regulation starting in the “later-half of 2011” but sources that emit less than 75,000 tons of annual GHG emissions will not be included in the permitting program for at least two years. This is a significant change form the 25,000 ton threshold originally proposed by EPA. The smallest sources of GHG emissions will be exempted from permitting requirements until at least 2016. It is not clear yet what actions members of Congress, including Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will take to try and prevent EPA from issuing this rule and the mobile source rule (see below) for automobiles and trucks.
Automobiles and trucks GHG emission standards about to become reality
Pending a final review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), this first first-ever tailpipe GHG standards for passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles is expected to go into effect. According to the EPA website, “vehicles manufactured between 2012 and 2016 will meet an estimated combined average emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (MPG).” The Secretary of the Department of Transportation, Roy LaHood, said he will announce a plan shortly to regulate GHG emissions from vehicles manufactured from 2017 model year onward.
Mandatory reporting of GHG emissions to expand to other industries
Effective January 1, 2010, large emitters of heat-trapping emissions were required to begin collecting greenhouse gas (GHG) data. This new program, according to EPA, covers approximately 85 percent of the nation’s GHG emissions and applies to roughly 10,000 facilities which emit more than 25,000 metric tons per year. In the past month, the EPA issued rules that require reporting of emissions data from the oil and natural gas, industries that emit fluorinated greenhouse gases, and from facilities that inject and store carbon dioxide (CO2) underground for the purposes of geologic sequestration or enhanced oil and gas recovery. Public hearings are scheduled for late April and provided there are no major challenges, the rules will go into effect soon thereafter. An report that is sponsored in part by the United Auto Workers concluded that such standards combined with a comprehensive climate change law could create up to 150,000 jobs in the US automobile sector by 2020.
Canada’s Climate Change Accountability Act - One Man Takes a Stand
A bill to regulate Canadian GHG emissions that was originally introduced to Parliament in 2006 has been reintroduced by an NDP member as a “private bill” in the current Parliamentary session that began March 3. The key to passing the Climate Change Accountability Act (C-311) lies with the Michael Ignatieff’s Liberal Party, which along with the NDP and Bloc Québécois has the votes to pass the bill against the wishes of the Conservative Party. Last year members of the Liberal Party voted to seek additional study when the bill came up for a vote. The bill would require a 25% reduction below 1990 GHG levels by 2020, and an 80% reduction by 2050, one of the strictest standards any country is considering. A 26 year old Canadian from Waterloo, Ontario has embarked on a public campaign to encourage Parliament to pass the bill by going on a water-only hunger strike. Dante Ryel said in a YouTube video in early March he will continue the hunger strike until Parliament votes on the bill, although in a March 25 update he said he is beginning to reintroduce food into his diet.
Over 100 of the 193 COP 15 attendees have now lent their signature to the commitment agreed to in Copenhagen. With the addition of China and India, this leaves Russia as the only major GHG emitter to not affirm their commitment. As of the original January 31 deadline, 55 countries had signed a commitment, so the most recent figure marks nearly a doubling.
Even so, Janos Pasztor, the top climate adviser to the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said: "It is likely, according to a number of analysts, that if we add up all those figures that were being discussed around Copenhagen, if they're all implemented, it will still be quite difficult to reach the two degrees." The 2°C (3.6° F) figure is taken from a baseline in the late 18th century prior to the Industrial Revolution, when human contribution to GHG levels began in earnest. The IPCC reports that global temperatures today are currently approximately .7 degrees C (1.3 degrees F) higher than they were from the pre-Industrial Revolution baseline, and that exceeding the 2°C threshold could lead to at times significant economic and environmental damage.
OF PERSONAL INTEREST
$3000 Rebate for Home Efficiency Improvements
Congress is considering a bill, called the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, which would provide up to $3000 in rebates to people who perform home energy efficiency upgrades. Under the current language, the bill provides Silver Star Rebates of $1000-$1500 in rebates for each energy-efficient upgrade capped at 50 percent of project costs or $3,000—whichever is less.. Gold Star Rebates of up to $3000 are available for a comprehensive home energy efficiency upgrade that achieves at least a 20% efficiency savings. The key committees in the House and Senate have already held hearings and the bill has a good chance of advancing for full House and Senate consideration this year given its potential to create jobs and President Obama’s personal support. A related Senate bill for commercial buildings, called Building Star Energy Efficiency Rebate Act of 2010, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Mapping Your Biking Commute in Advance
Most people have used a mapping software online, such as Google Maps, or MapQuest, to plan a car drive. Now bicyclists can also plan their journey using a new service introduced by Google that is integrate with Google Maps. It’s still in its early stages and Google is asking users to provide feedback, including information such as whether the recommended route includes dangerous roads for bicycles. 150 cities are included in the initial release, but their goal is to build the database to include many more cities. Other applications like Ride the City preceded Google’s entre into this market, but given Google Map’s omnipresence it’s likely to become the dominant bicycle direction application.
Interested in Buying Non Carbon-based Energy for Your Home?
The Center for Resource Solutions has sponsored a year-long campaign called Buy Clean Energy 2010 to provide consumers with information on how they can buy clean energy for their home. They provide resources to help you understand household electricity consumption and direct you either to 1) energy companies that provide clean energy through your local utility or 2) companies selling renewable energy certificates from wind facilities in the US. The later option is more like an offset as you’ll still be purchasing electricity for your home that comes from the same source as before.
Corporations Urged to Disclose Climate Change Risks on Balance Sheet
The US Securities and Exchange Commission issued interpretive guidance for companies to help them when disclosing climate-related risks in their public filings. Prior to this guidance, public companies had wide latitude to decide how and to what extent to disclose material risks related to climate change. The new guidance identifies four areas that require climate change disclosure: the impact of climate change legislation and regulation; the impact of international climate change accords; indirect consequences of climate change regulation or business trends; and the physical impacts of climate change. This would include considering, among other things, the impact of cap-and-trade, the cost of buying carbon credits, as well as the costs of reducing carbon emissions. Prior to this http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=62845b6d-34fd-4991-9477-440013451a1f
New Renewable Fuel Standards Rule Aim for 36B gallons by 2020
The recently issued renewable fuel standards require that 8.25% of all US fuels (gasoline and diesel) come from a renewable source in 2010. The Renewable Fuel Standard program was created by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) with a long-term goal of “achieving significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from the use of renewable fuels, reductions of imported petroleum and further development and expansion of our nation's renewable fuels sector.” The longer term target is 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2020, compared to 12.95B gallons required by the rule in 2010. For interesting insight read Joshua Kagen’s piece in Green Tech Media or EPA’s 4-page summary for more detail.
Are the Public Polls on Climate Change Misleading?
Public support for taking action on global warming appears to be strong according to poll results, but when asked about its priority in comparison with other policy matters, it consistently ranks last. A January 25 Pew Research poll places global warming at the bottom of the publics’ priorities for 2010, with only 28% saying they feel it’s a priority. “Dealing with Global Warming” has ranked last or next to last as a priority since it was added to the Pew poll in January 2007. But, when asked whether the government should take action to address climate change independent of other priorities, the answer is a definitive yes. A Washington Post/ABC News poll on Dec. 13 2009 (during the height of the coverage of the leaked emails from climate scientists in the UK) shows that by more than a 2 to 1 ratio people think the Federal government should regulate GHG from sources like power plants, cars, and factories (65% say should to 29% who say should not). The same poll found that 60% of people would favor regulations of GHG even if it raised their monthly expenses by $10, with 55% still in favor with a $25/month increase.
Tracking Legislation
A lot is happening in Washington, DC, Ottawa, state and provincial capitols. You can rely on this site to track the most important bills. We’ve started with the United States Congress and will build up our coverage over time.
Official Title: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Summary: This is the House’s blueprint to address climate change. Key provisions include :
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A cap & trade system that will limit total green house gas (GHG) emissions within the United States [click here understand what Cap & Trade means]
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A mandate to reduce total GHG emissions by 17% by 2020, 42% by 2030 and 83% by 2050 below 2005 levels
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Requirement for utilities to generate increasing amounts of their electricity from renewable sources
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Significant investment in carbon sequestration, which is the storage of carbon dioxide emissions underground
Status: Passed by the House in June 2009 and awaiting action on climate legislation in the Senate before going to conference.
Green Collar Job Impact: (refer to Title IV, Subtitle B: Green Jobs and Worker Transition)
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Authorizes grants to partnerships that involve educational institutions or members of the public with relevant experience (e.g. labor unions) to develop programs of study that are focused on emerging careers and jobs in fields associated with alternative sources of energy and climate change mitigation or adaption
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Authorizes a Green Construction Careers demonstration project to promote middle class careers and quality employment practices in the green construction sector
Official Title: Clean Energy and American Power Act
Summary: This is the first attempt in the Senate to create a climate bill. Key provisions include:
Mandates reduction of GHG emissions below 2005 emission levels as follows: 3% by 2012, 20% by 2020, 42% by 2030, and 83% by 2050
Authorizes incentive programs and regulations to increase the efficiency of buildings, water consumption, and transportation
Authorizes significant R&D investments in alternative energy as well as carbon capture and storage
Of note, this bill does NOT include a cap and trade emission program, although the expectation is that such a program would be established when the bill is considered by the Senate Finance Committee
Green Collar Job Impact (refer to Title 3, Subtitle A)
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Authorizes a competitive grant program within the Department of Education to develop programs of study focused on emerging careers and jobs in the fields of clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation
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Authorizes an information and resources clearinghouse to aid career and technical education and job training programs for the renewable energy sectors
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Authorizes a Green Construction Careers demonstration project to promote middle class careers and quality employment practices in the green construction sector
Other Bills of Note:
Cap and Rebate Bill: Two senators from opposite sides of the political aisle co-sponsored a bill nicknamed "Cap and Rebate" for its approach to regulating GHG's. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA)and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced the Carbon Limits and Energy for American Renewal (CLEAR) Act on December 11 and hailed it as a much simpler and more effective approach than the cap and trade approach featured in both the House and Senate bills. Rather than auction permits to the energy producers (e.g. power plant), suppliers (e.g. coal, natural gas, and oil companies) would have to buy the permits and could trade them among themselves. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from the auction would go directly back to US consumers in the form of a rebate to offset higher energy costs, while the other 25% would be invested in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and research. The emission reductions fall somewhere in between the major bills being considered in the House and Senate, but begin with a 20% reduction below 2005 levels by 2020 consistent with the Waxman-Markey bill. The bill has not yet been introduced formally and thus there is no objective detailed analysis. However, the text and analysis by Senator Cantwell's staff can be found on the Senator’s web site.
Green Energy Education Act (HR 957): Authorizes higher education curriculum development and graduate training in advanced energy and green building technologies. Focus is on higher education grants in energy and improving curricula in interdisciplinary engineering and architecture programs.
Community College Energy Training Act of 2009 (S1097): Establishes a program to provide for workforce training and education in sustainable energy at community colleges.
Renew Through Green Jobs Acts of 2009 (HR1781): Directs the Secretary of Labor to award grants to institutions of higher education for sustainability workforce training and education in industries and practices, such as: (1) clean energy; (2) green construction, retrofitting, and design; (3) green chemistry; (4) water and energy conservation; (5) recycling and waste reduction; (6) sustainable agricultural and culinary practices; (7) smart grid technology; (8) advanced vehicle technology; and (9) electric power transmission systems.
THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS MADE SIMPLE: If
you are not familiar with the legislative process in the United
States, or simply want to walk down memory lane to Saturday morning
cartoons from the 1970s and 1980s, we propose the following 3 minute
summary. You can’t go wrong with this summary. Enjoy!