[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE CLIMATE BILL: FUTURE OF BILL REMAINS UNCERTAIN AS OBAMA, CLIMATE BILL AUTHORS LOOK TO COMPROMISE”] Although the focus in Washington is on jobs and the economy, the Senate climate debate continues to grow more complex. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) still plans to hold a floor debate this spring, but there is little consensus…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE CLIMATE BILL: LEADERS VOW TO STAY THE COURSE, BUT JOBS AND ELECTIONS PRESENT A MAJOR HURDLE”] The chances of a climate law in 2010 are slim. With unemployment in the double digits, a still-weak economy, and midterm elections on the way, the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress will likely focus almost entirely on…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”NEGOTIATIONS: TURBULENT COPENHAGEN SUMMIT ENDS IN NON-BINDING ACCORD”] The UN climate summit in Copenhagen concluded on December 19, with the world’s largest emitters vowing to cut emissions and help developing countries adapt to the changing climate, and with the almost 200 countries present agreeing to “take note” of this pledge. Just before midnight the day…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”NEGOTIATIONS: COPENHAGEN DAYS AWAY; US SETTLES ON SPECIFICS”] With the Copenhagen climate summit set to begin December 7, the US has been faced with mounting international pressure to offer hard numbers on its climate contributions. Many of the key players, including Russia, Brazil, Korea and the European Union, announced their targets earlier and have been…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”NEGOTIATIONS: NO BINDING AGREEMENT AT COPENHAGEN; CLIMATE TALKS TO BE A “STEPPING STONE””] At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore, top officials acknowledged that the United Nations (UN) climate negotiations in Copenhagen next month will not produce a final international deal to reduce emissions. Denmark Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who will host the…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE CLIMATE BILL: EPW DEMOCRATS PASS BILL WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT”] The Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) advanced climate legislation on November 5, in spite of a three-day boycott by its Republican members. GOP lawmakers had refused to participate in the scheduled markup, arguing that it would be unwise to move forward with a climate…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE: KERRY-GRAHAM OP-ED OFFERS ROUTE TOWARDS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE”] A joint New York Times op-ed from Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), may pave the way for a bipartisan climate bill in the Senate. The senators use their military service as common ground, focusing on the impact that climate change and energy could have…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE CLIMATE BILL: KERRY-BOXER CLIMATE BILL INTRODUCED”] On September 30, Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) unveiled their much-anticipated draft climate bill, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The legislation draws a great deal from the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) passed earlier this year in the House,…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”APPROPRIATIONS: SENATE APPROVES INTERIOR-EPA SPENDING BILL”] On September 24, the Senate voted 77-21 in favor of its 2010 Interior-EPA 2010 spending bill. The $32.1 billion provided by the measure is $4.5 billion above 2009 levels, but $225 million below the White House request and $200 million below the measure passed in the House. Funding highlights:…
In this week’s Policy News, produced by ESA’s Policy Analyst Piper Corp: climate legislation delayed, acceleration of the process for Endangered Species listing, new Energy and Natural Resources bill in the House and the EU unveils environmental measure of GDP. Read the full Policy News here. Senate delays climate bill, raising questions about Copenhagen. Senate Democrats no longer plan to…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE: SENATE DELAYS CLIMATE BILL, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT COPENHAGEN”] Senate Democrats no longer plan to unveil their climate and energy bill by September 28. They gave several reasons for the delay, including the healthcare debate, the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and the need for additional consultation from government experts. Senate Majority Leader Harry…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”EPA ENDANGERMENT FINDING: CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHALLENGES FINDING, SEEKS TRIAL ON CLIMATE SCIENCE”] As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares to formalize its finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health, the US Chamber of Commerce has filed a petition with the agency, calling for a proceeding in which the science behind the finding would be…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY LEGISLATION: BOXER AND KERRY COMPLETING CAP-AND-TRADE PROVISIONS OVER BREAK, EMISSIONS ALLOWANCES LOOM LARGE”] Congress will return from August recess on September 8, giving Senate committees with jurisdiction over the climate and energy bill three weeks to complete markups before the September 28 deadline set by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Environment and…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE BILL: AMIDST CONGRESSIONAL HEALTHCARE DEBATE, CLIMATE ISSUES STILL ON LAWMAKERS’ MINDS”] As the August recess approaches, Congress has shifted its focus to healthcare reform. Still, the Senate is preparing to mark up climate legislation in September and a number of loose ends continue to generate discussion. Some issues to watch when Congress returns: Carbon…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: HOUSE PASSES WAXMAN-MARKEY; SENATE ACTION IMMINENT”] On June 26, the House voted 219-212 in favor of the Waxman-Markey climate and energy package. The bill’s success came after significant negations between Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Agriculture Committee Chairman Colin Peterson (D-MN). Peterson had previously vowed to vote against…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”SENATE ENERGY BILL: ENERGY PACKAGE IS HEADED TO THE FLOOR, INCLUDES EXPANSION OF OFFSHORE DRILLING”] On June 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 15-8 in favor of its massive energy bill, which would, among other things, establish a national renewable electricity standard (RES), overhaul federal financing for clean energy projects, and mandate…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”HOUSE CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: AG, WAYS AND MEANS THREATEN TO DELAY FLOOR VOTE; PELOSI GIVES COMMITTEE LEADERS JUNE 19 DEADLINE”] House leaders are under increasing pressure to finish work on the massive climate and energy bill as soon as possible, as part of a push to hold floor votes on both climate and health…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”HOUSE CLIMATE AND ENERGY BILL: COMMITTEE FINISHES MARKUP, APPROVES BILL; ANOTHER BUSY MONTH EXPECTED”] On May 21, the House Energy and Commerce Committee completed a weeklong markup of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454), approving it by a vote of 33 to 25. A number of matters have yet to be decided:…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”2010 BUDGET: WHITE HOUSE PROPOSAL INCLUDES SIGNIFICANT INCREASES FOR SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT”] Earlier today, President Obama released his $3.4 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2010, setting the stage for the 2010 appropriations process in Congress. The proposal includes many significant increases for renewable energy and environmental programs, along with $17 billion in proposed spending cuts,…
[toggles title=”In This Issue”] [toggle title=”CLIMATE AND ENERGY LEGISLATION: HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND MODERATE DEMOCRATS SPELL OUT THEIR CONCERNS WITH DRAFT BILL”] On March 31, Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee unveiled their draft climate and energy bill (for more information, see the April 2 edition of the ESA Policy News at:…