FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2008
Contact: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
Sierra Club Welcomes Senate Floor Debate on Climate Bill
Senators Should Strengthen & Pass Bill, Fend Off Any Weakening Changes
Washington, D.C.—The Senate voted this evening by a margin of 74 to 14
to proceed to a floor debate on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security
Act. Floor debate on the bill and potential amendments is expected to
begin as early as Tuesday evening, with votes to follow later in the
week.
Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
"Debating global warming in the Senate is a historic achievement, and
the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner substitute amendment is a major step in the
right direction. We commend the sponsors for putting this issue
directly before the Senate and the American public. However, the
legislation must be strengthened to effectively reduce U.S. emissions
in the short-term, achieve emission reductions consistent with the
latest science over the long-term, and use public resources for public
benefit by investing in a clean and secure energy economy and reducing
the overall cost of the program to society.
"We also urge strongly urge Senators to reject efforts that would
undercut our nation’s progress on global warming by voting against
amendments that would block states from addressing global warming,
create loopholes and safety valves that further undermine the
pollution caps, and provide additional subsidies for fossil fuels or
nuclear power.
"Only bold, science-based action can stave off the most catastrophic
effects of global warming. We strongly urge Senators to strengthen the
Climate Security Act and to oppose efforts to weaken it, so we can
pass global warming legislation truly equal to the task of addressing
this global crisis."
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Examples of potential strengthening amendments include, but are not
limited to:
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW -- The amendment would require the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the president to quickly propose new
legislation to adjust the emissions reduction framework—including
targets and timelines—based on National Academy of Sciences findings.
It would also call for expedited congressional action to speed passage
of these proposed adjustments.
CONSUMER AND JOBS PROTECTION --The amendment would ensure that funds
are available each year to fully cover the increased costs of goods
and services for the bottom income quintile and phase out the
assistance over the second income quintile. The amendment would also
increase funding for green jobs.
CLEAN ENERGY/POLLUTER PAYS --This amendment will end the practice of
fossil fuel generators receiving free allowances after 10 years and
move the savings to the states to be used for increased funding for
renewable energy, energy efficiency, workers transition, and
low-income consumer assistance.
Examples of potential weakening amendments include, but are not
limited to:
SAFETY VALVE -- An amendment may be offered that freezes the price of
carbon allowances at a specific price. That would bust the cap and
allow significantly higher emissions than called for in the bill.
UNLIMITED OFFSETS -- A Senator may offer an amendment that would allow
polluters to buy unlimited offsets, meaning that they would not have
to reduce their own pollution at all and would be able to buy their
way out of meeting reduction requirements.
NUCLEAR GIVE-AWAY -- Some Senators want to use a global warming bill
to give billions to the nuclear industry to build new power plants.
We have yet to solve the nuclear waste problem and with new estimates
pegging the cost of new nuclear power plants at $12-14 billion each,
nuclear power is a dirty, dangerous, and costly distraction that saps
resources better spent on cleaner, cheaper, safer, and faster
emissions reductions.
PRE-EMPTION -- We may see an amendment that pre-empts state activities
on global warming, including eviscerating the landmark California
global warming emissions standards for autos that have been joined by
more than a dozen states.
For the full text of the letter sent to the Senate today by Sierra
Club and Environment America, please visit:
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/downloads/2008-06-envam-letter.pdf
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