AM-10-127 Greenhouse Gas Compliance: A Moving Target

Description:

Concerns about climate change have risen to the top of the United States’ federal and state government agendas. Over the last twelve months, political conditions at the federal level have accelerated movement on climate change issues. In June 2009, the US House of Representatives passed domestic climate change legislation for the first time. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), also known as Waxman-Markey after its sponsors, proposed the creation of nationwide markets in greenhouse gases, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, as well as other policies directed toward establishing energy independence, creating new jobs and mitigating greenhouse gas contributions to climate change. A Senate version of the ACES bill, sponsored by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), was introduced soon thereafter. However, due to the nature of Senate proceedings and the need for a 60-vote supermajority to pass legislation, Sens. Kerry and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are currently working on a climate change bill that will appeal to both sides of the political aisle. Senate Democrats have promised action on the climate change bill in 2010, but complicating matters is the fact that the year’s legislative calendar will be cut short due to mid-term elections in November. If there is no action on the bill in the first half of 2010, the passage of climate change legislation could conceivably be pushed to 2011, a time when the political landscape will be more uncertain.