Legislation | Grist

It Could Be Verse

Climate-news poem: Breath-catching edition 0
Posted 2 days, 22 hours ago
After last week's Congressional frenzy, we take a moment to reflect on the climate vote and its fallout. Next week: no ACES, we promise!
China blasts U.S. climate bill enabling penalties on trade partners 4
Posted 3 days, 2 hours ago
China said Thursday it was "firmly" opposed to provisions in a new U.S. clean energy bill that will make it easier to impose trade penalties on nations that reject limits to globe-warming pollution.
Follow the money

Southern Company dominates the climate lobbying scene 2
Posted 3 days, 22 hours ago By David Donald, Marianne Lavelle
Southern Company, the nation's largest electric power generator, also had the largest force of lobbyists among the hundreds of businesses and interest groups that were seeking to influence the landmark climate change legislation that just passed the House.
Al's well that ends well

Franken win means another likely Senate vote for climate action 15
Posted 4 days, 22 hours ago
The end of the long Minnesota Senate recount saga means there will be one more senator who supports action to address climate change. In an interview with Grist last year, Al Franken said he supports a strong domestic cap-and-trade program with pollution permits auctioned off, not given away.
MoveOn up

MoveOn asks members whether it should launch major campaign to strengthen climate bill 8
Posted 5 days, 19 hours ago
The progressive activist group MoveOn is trying to rally its 5 million members behind an aggressive campaign to strengthen the climate and energy bill that passed the House last week.
More faith

Obama strategy on climate bill: get it passed, then let markets make the argument 5
Posted 5 days, 23 hours ago
President Obama and his team think clean energy will emerge much faster than official projections estimate. This helps explain Obama's strategy on climate legislation.
National climate change policy: A quick look back at Waxman-Markey and the road ahead 1
Posted 6 days ago
Like any legislation, the Waxman‑Markey bill has its share of flaws, but its cap-and-trade system has medium and long‑term targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are sensible, and the cap‑and‑trade system is -- for the most part -- well designed. With some exceptions, the bill's cap‑and‑trade system will achieve meaningful reductions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions at minimal cost to the economy.
The Con is On

The GOP’s Spanish prisoner/professor 0
Posted 1 week, 1 day ago
In prepping for today's House debate on Waxman-Markey, I watched David Mamet's mindbender, The Spanish Prisoner. The movie takes its title from a venerable long-con so complicated that -- I don't care how many times you've seen the film -- 20 minutes in and you'll have no idea who's zoomin' who. It's the perfect choice, because opponents of the climate bill have their very own Spaniard. And, just as in the film, this guy is no prisoner. He's part of the con.
It Could Be Verse

Climate-news poem: OMG They’re Voting! edition 1
Posted 1 week, 2 days ago
You've maybe noticed a certain theme on Grist lately. Call it what you will -- Waxman-Markey, ACES, The Crucialest Legislation This Country Has Seen In Recent Memory or Maybe Ever -- it's a critical battle in the climate fight. Right?
ACES will help create more jobs and opportunities for low-income families—see map 0
Posted 1 week, 2 days ago
The American Clean Energy and Security Act will help spur $150 billion in clean energy investments, which will create 1.7 million good-paying jobs throughout the United States.
Americans save on fuel bills under ACES—see map 0
Posted 1 week, 2 days ago
The American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act allocates funding to produce the next generation of clean, fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States, and when combined with clean vehicle performance standards adopted by the Obama administration, the American on-road fleet will become about 25% more fuel efficient over the next decade.
The Negotiators

The Non-Concession concession? 1
Posted 1 week, 2 days ago
Henry Waxman and Ed Markey seem to have mastered the art of the non-concession concession: striking deals with potential opponents in ways that meet their needs while minimizing (though not entirely eliminating) the negative impacts.
News of a compromise foretold

How bad is the Peterson-Waxman deal on climate legislation? 6
Posted 1 week, 3 days ago
Surprising no one--but disappointing many--House energy chief Henry Waxman has caved in to the demands of the the agribusiness industry over the climate bill. How bad is it?
SCREEEEECH 2
Posted 1 week, 4 days ago
That, my friends, is the sound of the California solar market grinding to a halt -- which is exactly what will happen if we don't lift the cap on net metering.
They blinded me with science

20 climate experts call for aggressive U.S. action 2
Posted 1 week, 6 days ago
A group of 20 U.S. climate scientists and experts sent an open letter to President Obama and the members of Congress on Monday calling for aggressive action on climate change.
Bill they, or won't they?

Climate bill negotiations stall in House 35
Posted 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Will there be a House vote next week on Waxman-Markey?
It Isn't Easy Being Green

Contesting on occupied terrain 0
Posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
There is much evidence to indicate that there will be a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives next week on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, ACESA.
Calling all hoopties!

Congress gives green light to “cash for clunkers” bill; Obama to sign 6
Posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
After the Senate passed the "cash for clunkers" bill on Thursday, it's now headed to President Barack Obama's desk, and he's expected to sign it enthusiastically.
Blitz!

White House and enviros amp up efforts to pass climate bill in House 3
Posted 2 weeks, 2 days ago
The House is gearing up to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act as soon as next week, and both the White House and environmental groups are planning a full-court press to get it passed.
Senate it all before

Enviros cringe as Senate committee approves energy bill 3
Posted 2 weeks, 3 days ago
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved an energy bill on Wednesday that has the environmental community up in arms. The plan, enviros say, relies too heavily on fossil fuels and doesn't do enough to advance renewable energy.