CAP UTILITIES ONLY?

Environmentalists Push for Utility-Only Cap as Snowe and Kerry Work on Compromise Energy Bill
Andrew Restuccia, July 12, 2010 (The Washington Independent)

"In an effort to maintain a cap on carbon — even a significantly scaled-down one — in energy and climate legislation, environmentalists are working with electric utilities and manufacturers to try to find middle ground that would center on a utility-only cap on greenhouse gas emissions…

"…[Support is being sought] among manufacturing groups, who have traditionally opposed a utility-only cap because they say it would impose an economic burden…Environmentalists don’t expect manufacturers to 'applaud' the idea of a utility-only cap…but they are hoping to avoid an 'all-out war' on the issue."

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"The last-minute push by environmentalists could be the last chance to show support for any sort of cap on carbon emissions in an energy bill…[A] final energy bill is expected to include an oil spill response package and a renewable electricity standard, but not a cap on carbon, even a utility-only cap."

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"…[It is said] Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and her staff are working with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and his staff on a compromise energy bill, though the details remain unclear…

"Bill Wicker — a spokesman for Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chairman of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee — confirmed earlier media reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled a meeting this week with committee chairs with jurisdiction over climate change…"