Centre for Environment Education and Technology (CEET)
Kiranam, Arpookara East P.O.
Kottayam, Kerala, India - 686008
P: +91 2594458, +91 9447 779 269 | E: ceet.india@gmail.com
Kiranam, Arpookara East P.O.
Kottayam, Kerala, India - 686008
P: +91 2594458, +91 9447 779 269 | E: ceet.india@gmail.com
United States passes Energy-Climate bill
President Barak Obama succeeded in getting the Climate bill passed in the US House of Representatives. This is an important development in the recent history of United States on a clear move to develop less carbon technologies
The Hindu News Paper (June 27, 2009) Reports:
“In a triumph for U.S. President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that establishes the United States' first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy. The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs. The House's action fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi's vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4 and sent the measure to a highly uncertain fate in the Senate. Mr. Obama lobbied recalcitrant Democrats by phone from the White House as the debate unfolded across several hours, and Al Gore posted a statement on his Web site saying the measure represents ``an essential first step toward solving the climate crisis.'' The former vice president shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work drawing attention to the destructive potential of global warming. On the House floor, Democrats hailed the legislation as historic, while Republicans said it would damage the economy without solving the nation's energy problems. It is ``the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country,'' said Democratic Rep. Ed Markey. ``It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and toward a path of clean American energy.'' But Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, used an extraordinary one-hour speech shortly before the final vote to warn of unintended consequences in what he said was a ``defining bill.'' He called it a ``bureaucratic nightmare'' that would cost jobs, depress real estate prices and put the government into parts of the economy where it now has no role. Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters. Most of the allowances would be given away, but about 15 percent would be auctioned by bid and the proceeds used to defray higher energy costs for lower-income individuals and families. The final bill also contained concessions to satisfy farm-state lawmakers, ethanol producers, hydroelectric advocates, the nuclear industry and others.
“In a triumph for U.S. President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that establishes the United States' first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy. The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs. The House's action fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi's vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4 and sent the measure to a highly uncertain fate in the Senate. Mr. Obama lobbied recalcitrant Democrats by phone from the White House as the debate unfolded across several hours, and Al Gore posted a statement on his Web site saying the measure represents ``an essential first step toward solving the climate crisis.'' The former vice president shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work drawing attention to the destructive potential of global warming. On the House floor, Democrats hailed the legislation as historic, while Republicans said it would damage the economy without solving the nation's energy problems. It is ``the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country,'' said Democratic Rep. Ed Markey. ``It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and toward a path of clean American energy.'' But Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, used an extraordinary one-hour speech shortly before the final vote to warn of unintended consequences in what he said was a ``defining bill.'' He called it a ``bureaucratic nightmare'' that would cost jobs, depress real estate prices and put the government into parts of the economy where it now has no role. Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters. Most of the allowances would be given away, but about 15 percent would be auctioned by bid and the proceeds used to defray higher energy costs for lower-income individuals and families. The final bill also contained concessions to satisfy farm-state lawmakers, ethanol producers, hydroelectric advocates, the nuclear industry and others.
President Barak Obama succeeded in getting the Climate bill passed in the US House of Representatives. This is an important development in the recent history of United States on a clear move to develop less carbon technologies.
The Hindu News Paper (June 27, 2009) Reports:
“In a triumph for U.S. President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that establishes the United States' first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy. The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs. The House's action fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi's vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4 and sent the measure to a highly uncertain fate in the Senate. Mr. Obama lobbied recalcitrant Democrats by phone from the White House as the debate unfolded across several hours, and Al Gore posted a statement on his Web site saying the measure represents ``an essential first step toward solving the climate crisis.'' The former vice president shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work drawing attention to the destructive potential of global warming. On the House floor, Democrats hailed the legislation as historic, while Republicans said it would damage the economy without solving the nation's energy problems. It is ``the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of our country,'' said Democratic Rep. Ed Markey. ``It sets a new course for our country, one that steers us away from foreign oil and toward a path of clean American energy.'' But Rep. John Boehner, the House Republican leader, used an extraordinary one-hour speech shortly before the final vote to warn of unintended consequences in what he said was a ``defining bill.'' He called it a ``bureaucratic nightmare'' that would cost jobs, depress real estate prices and put the government into parts of the economy where it now has no role. Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters. Most of the allowances would be given away, but about 15 percent would be auctioned by bid and the proceeds used to defray higher energy costs for lower-income individuals and families. The final bill also contained concessions to satisfy farm-state lawmakers, ethanol producers, hydroelectric advocates, the nuclear industry and others.
Highlights of climate bill approved passed by the House:
* Reducing greenhouse gases by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050 through a cap-and-trade program that allows pollution permits to be bought and sold. * Limiting emissions from major industrial sources, including power plants, factories, refineries and electricity and natural gas distributors. Emissions from agriculture would be excluded from the cap. * Controlling carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels and limiting six other greenhouse gases. * Allowing companies to meet emission-limiting targets by investing in offset projects such as tree planting and forest protection. * Requiring electric utilities to produce at least 12 percent of their power from renewable sources such wind and solar energy by 2020, and requiring as much as 8 percent in energy efficiency savings. * Imposing tighter performance standards on new coal-fired power plants and providing $1 billion a year in development money for capturing carbon dioxide from such plants. * Establishing standards that will require new buildings to be 30 percent more energy-efficient by 2012 and 50 percent more efficient by 2016.
* Reducing greenhouse gases by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050 through a cap-and-trade program that allows pollution permits to be bought and sold. * Limiting emissions from major industrial sources, including power plants, factories, refineries and electricity and natural gas distributors. Emissions from agriculture would be excluded from the cap. * Controlling carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels and limiting six other greenhouse gases. * Allowing companies to meet emission-limiting targets by investing in offset projects such as tree planting and forest protection. * Requiring electric utilities to produce at least 12 percent of their power from renewable sources such wind and solar energy by 2020, and requiring as much as 8 percent in energy efficiency savings. * Imposing tighter performance standards on new coal-fired power plants and providing $1 billion a year in development money for capturing carbon dioxide from such plants. * Establishing standards that will require new buildings to be 30 percent more energy-efficient by 2012 and 50 percent more efficient by 2016.
* Protecting consumers from rising energy costs by giving rebates and credits to low-income households. “