The Red, White, and Green

According to the WSJ, the Senate climate draft includes "provisions to fund training of workers in the nuclear industry and development of technology that could reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from coal-fired power plants." Photo via Flickr: Theslowlane

Looks like my call last week for the Senate to get moving on its version of the climate bill is about to be answered — although it’s more probable that Al Gore’s swift kick in the Senatorial slacks at the Clinton Global Initiative last week had just a wee bit more impact. (We’ll get there one day, loyal RWG readers!)

From The Wall Street Journal:

Top Senate Democrats Wednesday plan to unveil a draft climate bill that would call for somewhat-faster reductions in U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions than would be required under a House bill. But the proposal is expected to defer tough decisions on many other major issues, underscoring the challenges lawmakers face in seeking a consensus on the issue.

According to a copy of the draft legislation seen by The Wall Street Journal and people close to the matter, the proposal will call for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 20% from 2005 levels by 2020. The House bill, passed by the chamber in June, calls for cutting emissions 17% over the same period.

Click here for the full read.

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: There would be no Senate climate bill without Sen. Barbara Boxer, a relentless environmental advocate and head of the the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Unfortunately, she’s a top right-wing target for next year’s election. Her expected challengers are far from green: California Assemblyman Chuck Devore actually voted against AB 32, CA’s landmark global warming legislation; as economic adviser to presidential candidate John McCain, ex-CEO Carly Fiorina said “drill, drill, drill.” Click here to donate to Boxer’s campaign.

Related posts:
Senate needs to pass climate bill
Global warming will threaten national security

Like this post? Subscribe to The Red, White, and Green RSS feed