John Dingell

Mixed reports

Today in E&E Daily (sub. only), there's a chipper piece from Darren Samuelsohn about the prospects for action on climate change in the 110th Congress. Look, how exciting!

The 2006 election outcome may be less than a week old, but the pieces have started coming together for how the next Congress will tackle the global warming issue.

"Clearly, it's a sea change," said Emily Figdor of U.S. PIRG. "For the first time in a long time, Congress can finally get down to the business of what's happening."

Incoming Senate EPW Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said last week she would take a lead role for the Democrats. Speaking with reporters, Boxer said she plans to use California's new global warming law -- requiring a statewide cut of emissions of 25 percent by 2020 -- as a model in the drafting of federal climate legislation.

Wo0t! Right?

But a few paragraphs later:

Rain, mixed with tears

For those under the impression that the events of the past few days represent an exciting opportunity for new course for our country, even reason to hope again -- well, meet Rep. John Dingell, the new head of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. In an interview on Wednesday, he gave a preview of what we might expect:

Congress and global warming

This is mentioned in the Daily Grist, but Darren Samuelsohn has a great piece of reporting in Greenwire today. Juicy insider tidbits abound. It's paid-subscription-only, so I'm poaching it for you to read here:

EPA plan would give political officials more say over air-quality standards

Who should decide what level of air pollution is safe — scientists or political appointees? Plume and doom. Photo: iStockphoto. A counterintuitive answer came from top officials at the U.S. EPA last week. Bill Wehrum and George Gray, EPA’s highest-ranking air and science officials, respectively, issued recommendations that some enviros and agency staffers fear could […]