Following the announcement today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it has finalized the so-called “endangerment finding” and determined that heat-trapping pollution constitutes a danger to human health and the environment, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Waxman-Markey climate bill and chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, issued the following statement:
“Now that the U.S. government has officially ended its era of climate denial, the real endangerment to our planet comes from those who continue to deny the science and delay taking any action.
“The finding that global warming pollution poses a threat to human health and our environment is based on mountains of data accumulated from thousands of scientists over the course of decades. The molehill recently manufactured by a few climate deniers does not change that.
“President Obama and the United States Congress can now travel to Copenhagen armed with regulatory credibility and emission reduction targets from the Waxman-Markey legislation. The world is watching, and the United States is acting.”
“We are disappointed that Chairman Markey’s hearing on this scandal will have to wait, but we applaud his efforts to bring this important story to light. Today’s press reports confirm the close associations between ACCCE and the contractors they hired and the fact that ACCCE knew about the letters forged on their behalf well before Congress was alerted.
“This is another reminder of how far these polluting special interests are willing to go to keep the public in the dark and dependent on their dirty sources of energy. Big Oil, Big Coal and other special interests have already spent more than $100 million trying to defeat clean energy legislation, and in doing so have managed to mar the tradition of true public participation that has made our country great.
“We cannot let polluters get away with their dirty, business-as-usual tactics. Right now the Senate is working on a clean energy jobs bill that will ensure we have less pollution, more jobs and greater security. It will help America take charge and build a clean energy economy that works for everyone.
“But Big Coal and Oil are fighting against this progress, spending tens of millions of dollars in an attempt to drown out the calls for a clean energy economy that are coming from across the country. These polluters are fighting hard for billions in giveaways that would encourage the construction of more dirty coal-fired power plants and to weaken the authority of the Clean Air Act.
“The Senate must fight back against the old polluting industries and pass as strong clean energy jobs bill that will create jobs, boost the economy, switch to renewable sources like wind and solar, make America more secure, and fight global warming.
“We look forward to when the witnesses on both sides of this issue are able to publicly tell their stories.”
Markey to Chamber: Follow Those Companies That Want Action, Not Talk
WASHINGTON (October 8, 2009) — Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Waxman-Markey clean energy and climate bill, today noted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s statements supporting the goals of the Waxman-Markey bill. Rep. Markey called on the Chamber to follow forward-thinking companies like Apple, Nike, Exelon, PG&E and others who have left the Chamber because of the group’s continued failure to match action with their own words.
“It is good to have the Chamber of Commerce on board supporting the tenets of Waxman-Markey. Unfortunately, while the Chamber says they are for everything the Waxman-Markey bill addresses, they are just not for the bill itself,” said Rep. Markey, who Chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “The Chamber should listen to the companies who would rather leave the group than wait for it to back up their talk with action.”
The Chamber today defined a successful piece of legislation as one that “must include all major CO2 emitting economies, promote new technologies, emphasize efficiency, ensure affordable energy for families and businesses, and help create American jobs and return our economy to prosperity.”
The Waxman-Markey bill:
Includes major CO2 emitting economies: Does not regulate China, India or other countries, as that is not under Congressional jurisdiction, but it does promote international technology cooperation, international deforestation prevention, international investments, and sets the stage for an international agreement to be made with all countries;
Promotes new technologies: provides $200 billion to research and deploy clean energy technologies, and establishes a Green Bank that can provide funding for renewable energy, nuclear and other emerging technologies, and creates Clean Energy Hubs that will help link inventors with investors;
Emphasize efficiency: sets a national efficiency standard and updates the efficiency of appliances, homes, buildings, and vehicles;
Ensure affordable energy for families and businesses: according to the CBO, EIA, and EPA analyses, the Waxman-Markey bill would cost about a postage stamp a day, with electricity rates rising no more than 3 to 4 percent—and that’s before the savings from energy efficiency reduces energy bills for all consumers;
Help create American jobs and return our economy to prosperity: several studies have pointed to the millions of jobs that could be created from clean energy legislation, and clean energy innovation and jobs are key to the long-term recovery of our nation’s economy.
“With the release of this Senate draft bill, there is now Congress-wide movement to pass a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill. Given the Senate draft’s structural similarity to the House-passed Waxman-Markey bill, a legislative solution that can pass both chambers of Congress is finally within sight.
“Just as in Waxman-Markey, the Senate draft bill includes many provisions to help America make the transition away from foreign oil and to a clean energy future, including robust consumer protection and worker training measures.
“As the bill moves through the Senate process, I will continue to work with Senators Kerry and Boxer, and any other Senators, to ensure that the final legislation we send to President Obama creates a future with more clean energy and less global warming pollution.”
I expect a cap-and trade bill will pass Congress in the next 12 to 15 months — with the support of most midwestern Dems.
Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Ed Markey, two other key players in the upcoming fight, are on board with Markey’s assessment, expecting the process to take no more than six months.
