For whatever it's worth

A list of strengthening amendments to the climate bill that will probably never be introduced 2

In all likelihood, these will never be formally introduced on the Senate floor, but here's a list of the strengthening amendments to the Climate Security Act that various senators have floated:

Renewable Electricity Standard, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): This amendment would require that states generate at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

Scientific Review, John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): The amendment would require the U.S. 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 (NAS) findings. It would also call for expedited congressional action to speed passage of these proposed adjustments.

Consumer and Job Protection, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.): 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 of U.S. citizens and phase out the assistance over the second-to-bottom-income quintile. The amendment would also increase funding for green jobs. The amendment preserves and strengthens the role of Local Distribution Companies (LDC) to prioritize energy-efficiency programs.

Clean Energy Amendment, Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg (both D-N.J.): To remedy both the cut in funding to renewable energy and the projected windfall profits for fossil-fuel generators, this Polluter Pays Amendment will end the practice of fossil-fuel generators receiving free allowances after 10 years and move the savings to the states. Cumulatively, between 2012 and 2030, this proposal would transfer about $200 billion from fossil fuel generation transition to the states. States would then be required to spend a portion of this money on renewable energy, energy efficiency, worker transition, and low-income consumer assistance.

Energy Efficiency Amendment, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): This amendment would strengthen the energy-efficiency provisions in the bill in several ways, though amendment language has not yet been finalized.

International Forest Protection, Menendez and Kerry: This amendment would increase funding for the set-aside to prevent emissions from tropical deforestation. The funding would be offset by a reduction in the transition assistance to the refiners of petroleum-based fuels.

International Adaptation, Menendez: This amendment would increase the near-term funding for international adaptation. The funding would be offset by a reduction in the transition assistance to the largest oil refiners.

Kate Sheppard is Grist’s political reporter.

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  1. billgee Posted 11:23 pm
    05 Jun 2008

    Wonderful Work Kate SheppardBut youre probably right

    How's that go ...

    A politician by any other name ...
  2. Zephaniah Posted 3:42 am
    06 Jun 2008

    cost of inactionI thought I also heard Sen Menendez say that he planned to propose an amendment that would require our federal government to calculate the costs of ignoring the global warming crisis, such as agricultural and forest loss from drought and infestation, flooding and storm damage, infrastructure loss on coastlines, threats to health, competitive disadvantage in developing new energy technology, etc etc.

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