Climate Politics

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  • Sampling the competing flavors of the Senate climate debate

    When it comes to the debate over climate and energy legislation, there are those in Congress and business for whom any bill will always be too much, and there are lawmakers and environmental groups for whom no bill will ever be tough enough. In between the two extremes, there are the middle paths, variously labeled […]

    Russ Choma Politics

  • Giveway's in Climate Bill still unfair, inefficient

    Peter Dorman, a strong cap-and-trade supporter points out why Stavins’ defense of giveways is wrong. The key paragraphs: To arrive at his judgment, Stavins lumps together the bulk of the free allocations and says, “about 80 percent of the value of allowances [accrue] to consumers, small business, and public purposes.” Hmmmm. So free handouts to […]

    Gar Lipow Politics

  • Kerry-Boxer muddies handling of international offsets

    It’s great that climate change returns to the Senate agenda this week. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, introduced by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) seems to be gaining some momentum, but the slow pace in the Senate makes it extremely unlikely that a vote will occur before the forthcoming […]

    Sonia Medina Politics

  • The Kerry-Boxer bill is not “more ambitious” than Waxman-Markey

    I’m sure Steve Mufson and Juliet Eilperin didn’t choose the headline, but whoever did, I think it’s a real mistake to refer to the Kerry-Boxer bill as “a bit more ambitious” than its Waxman-Markey counterpart in the House. This became conventional wisdom almost immediately, but it seems to me both wrong and pernicious — the […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • Climate action in the shadow of the White House

    [vodpod id=Video.16192487&w=425&h=350&fv=offsite%3Dtrue%26amp%3Boffsite%3Dtrue%26amp%3Blang%3Den-us%26amp%3Bpage_show_url%3D%252Fphotos%252Fgrist%252Fsets%252F72157622530059301%252Fshow%252F%26amp%3Bpage_show_back_url%3D%252Fphotos%252Fgrist%252Fsets%252F72157622530059301%252F%26amp%3Bset_id%3D72157622530059301%26amp%3Bjump_to%3D] Carrie Madren, a freelance journalist, filed this dispatch from the International Climate Action Day event in Washington, D.C. You had to be pretty dedicated to complete the 350.org march climate action march in Washington, D.C. That’s because participants had to slog down the streets of the nation’s capital in a deluge. Participants in […]

    Grist staff Politics

  • Kerry-Boxer clean energy bill: Chairman’s mark and EPA analysis released

    Sen. Boxer speaking at a CEJAPA rally at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy The Sierra Club via Flickr At close to 11pm Eastern, Boxer’s office has finally released the chairman’s mark of the Kerry-Boxer bill. This is the version of the bill that will be debated in hearings next week. Concurrently, the […]

    David Roberts Politics

  • White House loads policy initiatives into a few hours of fun at Healthy Kids Fair

    Cross-posted from Obama Foodorama. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack watches Mrs. Obama make remarks at the opening of the Fair.Photo: Obama FoodoramaA challenge for change, and White House Chefs demo’ing delicious, nutritious recipes… The autumn sunshine was very bright, the weather unseasonably warm, and there was a party atmosphere at the White House for Wednesday’s […]

    Eddie Gehman Kohan Politics

  • Obama says ‘It’s hard to say’ why critics of clean energy accuse him of socialism

    Cross-posted from the Wonk Room This afternoon at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, President Obama challenged the nation to explore the “new frontiers” of the “clean energy economy of tomorrow.” He praised Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for working on legislation to make our energy system “more […]

    Brad Johnson Politics

  • Confusion in the Senate regarding allowance allocation

    According to an October 22nd  story in Environment & Energy Daily (“Climate:  GOP Fence Sitters Voice Concerns Over Allocations” by Darren Samuelson), several key swing-vote Senate Republicans — including Senator Lisa Murkowski, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee — are voicing skepticism about the Senate’s Boxer-Kerry climate bill’s cap-and-trade system because of […]

    Robert Stavins Politics

  • Obama energy speech contained few policy specifics, but shaped forward-looking narrative

    Obama speaking on clean energy in MIT’s Kresge Auditorium. Photo: Dominick ReuterObama delivered a speech on energy at MIT on Friday, marking the kick-off for what is likely to be a protracted effort by the administration and Democrats in the Senate to pass the Kerry-Boxer clean energy bill. Those hoping for policy substance or firm […]

    David Roberts Politics