Waxman-Markey: What the Big Green Guns Are Saying
As discussions open in Congress today surrounding the American Clean Energy and Security Act (the Waxman-Markey Bill), I started to wonder what environmental advocacy groups’ attitudes are about the climate change/green jobs/clean energy/energy independence legislation. Here is a quick rundown of statements from some of the biggest and most influential environmental groups in the country.
Environmental Defense Fund
Overall sentiment: It’s a good thing, let’s get it done.
Statement from President Fred Krupp:
“Chairmen Waxman and Markey have picked the lock; it’s a huge boost for passage of a cap this year. This bill can win not only the support of environmentalists and business, but also the diverse group of regional interests that make up the Congress. It’s a watershed agreement.
The agreement delivers a strong cap on pollution with a smart plan to protect family budgets and economic competitiveness, and that’s precisely the formula we need.
The chairmen and their colleagues have found the center. This is an agreement that can win the House and provide a template for a bill that can pass the Senate. We applaud them for their effort and look forward to working with them and the Congress to get a strong bill to the President’s desk this year.”
The EDF also points out that the latest estimates indicate that the emissions cap can be reached for less than $100 per household per year in increased costs, and that the format of the emission permits will help protect customers from rising utility costs, especially in the early years of the legislation’s lifespan.
Natural Resources Defense Council
Overall sentiment: Let’s not water it down, but looking good so far.
Statement from Dan Lashof, Director of NRDC’s Climate Center:
“Comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation is now poised to advance a clean energy future for America. The emerging consensus in the House Energy and Commerce Committee lays the critical foundation for Congress to enact legislation this year that will spur clean energy investments and cut carbon pollution that causes global warming. Under the leadership of Chairmen Waxman and Markey, Congress is forging a clean energy path that will create jobs, cut our dependence on oil, and ensure America’s place as a global economic leader.
For too many years, progress to spur economic growth through investments in energy efficiency and clean energy sources, like the wind and sun, was held hostage. Now, just four months into the new Administration and Congress, businesses, labor, and environmental advocates are working together to unleash American innovation and make a clear break from the past.
As the bill moves forward, we will urge Congress to ensure that the legislation is as strong and effective as possible to deliver safe, clean energy to America, increase energy efficiency, and protect the planet for future generations.”
Greenpeace
Overall sentiment: Politics has already destroyed the effectiveness of this Bill. Start over.
Statement from USA Executive Director Phil Radford:
“Despite the best efforts of Chairman Waxman, this bill has been seriously undermined by the lobbying of industries more concerned with profits than the plight of our planet. While science clearly tells us that only dramatic action can prevent global warming and its catastrophic impacts, this bill has fallen prey to political infighting and industry pressure. We cannot support this bill in its current state. We call on President Obama and leaders in Congress to get back to work and produce a bill, based on science, which presents a clear road map for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transforms our economy with clean, renewable energy technology, generates new green jobs and shows real leadership internationally.”
Greenpeace argues that the specific emissions goals of Waxman-Markey fall short of what is necessary to avoid catastrophic effects of climate change; instead of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, Greenpeace says we need a cut of 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels in that time frame. The group also disapproves of provisions for carbon capture and sequestration development, and thinks the renewable energy source numbers fall short of the mark as well.
Sierra Club
Overall sentiment: It’s a great thing, but polluters are mangling the Bill. Let’s fight through it.
Statement from Executive Director Carl Pope:
“Chairmen Waxman and Markey have done heroic work in reaching agreement on the Energy and Commerce Committee around a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan, a critically important milestone that has faced seemingly insuperable obstacles. Their leadership has been truly remarkable. But it is clear that Big Oil, Big Coal and other polluters are still holding out for a Congressional bailout. They will continue to try to riddle this legislation with loopholes, water it down, and load it up with hundreds of billions of dollars in giveaways. They don’t want it to deliver a recovery fueled by the clean energy jobs that America needs.
These polluters are trying to strangle the clean energy economy in its cradle, steal the benefits of the clean energy future from the American people, and keep us addicted to oil and dirty coal. As this bill moves through the many remaining steps in the legislative process, we will work to strengthen this bill, so that it meets President Obama’s challenge to Congress and the American people.”
The Sierra Club says that an effective piece of climate change legislation must increase the speed of our transition to cleaner energy sources, “slash energy waste” in order to reduce emissions and cut consumer costs, and close the “carbon pollution loophole” and force those polluting to pay for it.
At least from this quick and admittedly limited summary, environmental advocacy groups seem optimistic about this legislation. I share at least some of Greenpeace’s outrage that politics has dumbed down the science, but I still think the fact that the government may be able to get something done to begin reducing emissions is cause for celebration. And Joe Romm at the indispensable Climate Progress has an interesting takedown of some of Greenpeace’s arguments. He also suggests an easy-to-learn drinking game for watching the House markup session today on C-SPAN. And really, watching the addition of 449 amendments to a Bill would lead anyone to drink.
Image: Hellohowareyoudoing under a Wikimedia Commons license.
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