Climate Change Bill Weakened by Democrats Seeking “Special Incentives” for the Electric Utility and Coal Industries

Sep 12th, 2009 in Newswire

On September 10, a group of eight Senate Democrats called on Senator Boxer, chair of the influential Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to further weaken the ACESA cap and trade bill being worked on by her committee.

This “range of special incentives” for coal and the electric industry was praised by Environmental Defense Fund.  The big greens continue their push for the ACESA type bill.  NRDC and others in the big greens “carbon war room” have paid lobbyists on the streets outside of Senate office in states of swing vote Senators.  The paid lobbyists are equipped with cell phones and stop people and ask them to talk to their Senator to support the climate bill and then hand them the speed dialed cell phone.  We hear the Senators phones are ringing frequently with calls supporting the bill.

As reported by E&E, a Senate Democratic aide said that the weakening of ACESA sought by the eight Senators could expand the offset pool by 45%, allowing polluters to buy their way out of pollution.  According to E&E:
“We’re very encouraged to see such a diverse group of senators working
together, making progress, and moving climate legislation forward,” said
Tony Kreindler, a spokesman at the Environmental Defense Fund.

Big greens are calling for “strengthening” the climate bill.   Yes,  more incentives for coal and electric utilities is “strengthening” if your interest is in getting more out of Congress for the power industry at the expense of the climate and our most vulnerable communities.  The big greens support for this climate bill, particularly in light of this effort to further weaken the bill in the Senate is a betrayal of the American people.  Never mind the donors who are footing the $10 million plus big green campaign to push the bill, any bill.

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