Hearings begin on the US Climate bill; remarks by EPA Administrator Jackson, Energy Sectretary Chu

In Washington, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee commenced three days of hearings on the climate bill, in a late bid to pass climate legislation before the end of the year.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Secretary or Energy Steven Chu were among those testifying on the first day.

Administrator Jackson said, in part: “Even as the President and the members of his Cabinet move forward under existing authority, we continue urging Congress to pass a new clean-energy law.  Only new legislation can bring about the comprehensive and integrated changes that are needed to restore America’s economic health and keep the nation secure over the long term.  First, the legislation would transform the American economy from one that is relatively energy inefficient and dependent on highly-polluting energy production to one that is highly energy efficient and powered by advanced, cleaner, and more domestically-sourced energy.  ?Second, the legislation would bring about that transformation at a cost of less than 50 cents per day per American household in 2020.  Third, the finding that regional cost differences would be small applies to the Senate bill just as it did to the House legislation.

Secretary Chu said, in part: The world now realizes that its current level of greenhouse gas emissions is unsustainable.  In the coming years, there will be a vigorous effort to limit carbon pollution that will require a massive deployment of clean energy technologies.  The only question is – which countries will invent, manufacture, and export these clean technologies and which countries will become dependent on foreign products? China has already made its choice.  China is spending about $9 billion a month on clean energy.  It is also investing $44 billion by 2012 and $88 billion by 2020 in Ultra High Voltage transmission lines.  These lines will allow China to transmit power from huge wind and solar farms far from its cities.  While every country’s transmission needs are different, this is a clear sign of China’s commitment to developing renewable energy.

Republicans, who are generally opposed to the bill although less so to climate change legislation, said they would offer and alternative to cap-and-trade legislation.

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