Washington (Platts)--18Dec2007
Legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions from electric utilities and
other sources by 70% compared with 2005 levels will come before the US Senate
in the first half of 2008, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
Chairman Barbara Boxer said Tuesday.
In a briefing, Boxer, Democrat-California, said that building majority
support for the bipartisan bill when it comes to the Senate floor would be a
top priority in 2008. The bill, S. 2191, which cleared her committee in a 11-8
vote December 5, is attracting a number of supporters, Boxer said, but she
planned to lobby her fellow senators to ensure the measure gets the 60 votes
needed to pass the Senate.
"I need to work it, one-on-one, with my colleagues," said Boxer. "I need
to see where we are."
Drafted by Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman and Virginia Republican
John Warner, the bill would cap greenhouse gas emissions from regulated
electric utilities, natural gas processing and the transportation fuel and
industrial sectors starting in 2012. The cap would incrementally increase to
70% below 2005 GHG levels by 2050.
The bill would employ an emissions trading system whereby sources are
initially provided allowances to cover their GHGs but as the cap tightens, the
free allowances diminish. In 2030, all sources would be forced to buy
allowances to cover their existing emissions in an open auction.
Also Tuesday, Boxer said she would seek by the end of 2007 a waiver from
the US Environmental Protection Agency allowing California to require a 30%
cut in GHG emissions from motor vehicles.
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson has said he would make a decision by
the end of the year, but Boxer said she had tried repeatedly to meet with
Johnson on the matter and has "little hope" the waiver will be granted.
If EPA fails to act, Boxer said she could pursue federal legislation to
obtain the waiver that would allow California and 11 other states to regulate
GHGs from cars for the first time. She also expects court cases to ensue if
the waiver request is denied by the administration.
In April, the US Supreme Court ruled that GHG emissions are pollutants
under the Clean Air Act and EPA has the authority to regulate these emissions
from vehicle tailpipes.
"We can't afford to wait," Boxer said. If the administration blocks the
waiver, the agency should "get out of the way and let the states lead."
--Cathy Cash, cathy_cash@platts.com
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