What’s the Status of the Senate Climate Bill?

The long awaited climate bill was introduced by the Senate this past week, co-sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer with substantial backing from private industries.

The “Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act” calls for a 20 percent reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 2005 levels by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. The bill proves more strict than the version narrowly passed by the House this past June, titled “American Clean Energy and Security Act,” which called for a 17 percent reduction of GHG emissions by 2020.

Senator John Kerry (D-Mass) lobbies for the passing of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, co-sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif). Photo: kerry.senate.gov

The centerpiece of the Senate bill is the cap and trade debate, which is now referred to as pollution reduction and investment (PRI). Under PRI, limits would be set on the amount of carbon companies could legally emit.

The “cap,” as it is commonly known, would set the upper limit of greenhouse gases that could be emitted into the atmosphere, while the “trade” would allow for companies to invest pollution-reducing technologies or buy and sell credits to reach the cap.

A surprising number of businesses have lobbied Senate lawmakers for the quick passage of a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Companies including Nike Inc., HP, Seventh Generation,  Starbucks and eBay, all members of an umbrella group known as We Can Lead, are headed to Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of their companies’ pro-climate bill message.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Chime In

U.S. Conference of Mayors President, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, announced Friday that more than 1,000 U.S. mayors have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The pledge, made by mayors representing more than 86 million Americans, is a bold statement of support for the lowering of carbon emissions across U.S. cities.

“I welcome the opportunity to join with 1,000 of my peers in this truly bipartisan effort to improve not only the environment, but our communities and our nation,” said Mesa, Ariz. Mayor Scott Smith, the 1,000th signatory of the Agreement. “We may not all agree on specific action points, but we are united in a common goal of responsible environmental stewardship.”