The Skywriter

DC Hill update: a summer of strengthening

20
Jul

DC Hill update: a summer of strengthening

By Jason Kowalski

As the August recess approaches, Senate Democrats continue to move the ball forward on climate legislation. Climate committees hold hearings in anticipation of the September 28 markup deadline, and opponents of climate action are working hard on the floor to push their own anti-climate agendas. Though none of the Senate committees are expected to have their pieces ready before the August recess, strong grassroots pressure will be key to ensuring a mandate for the strongest legislation possible come September.

1. Timeline

Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has promised the release of her committee's discussion draft on September 8, the first day back from recess. By releasing a discussion draft after recess, EPW has the potential to positively influence other committee processes as titles get marked up before September 28. The current schedule:

  • 7/21 - 7/22: Climate hearings continue in Foreign Relations, EPW, and Agriculture Committees;

  • 8/8 - 9/7: Senate August recess;

  • 9/8: EPW Discussion draft to be released;

  • 9/8 - 9/25: Committee mark-ups held;

  • 9/28: Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) new mark-up deadline for all Senate committees with climate jurisdiction.

2. Potential for a Strong Start in the EPW Committee

Chairwoman Boxer has publicly expressed interest strengthen short-term targets and possibly addressing coal loopholes. She is looking to strengthen targets and has also expressed interest in the coal issues raised in recent testimony from David Hawkins of NRDC (PDF).Boxer can afford to lose two Democrats, and still pass a bill out of committee. But she may make a decision to try to keep all the Dems together to set the stage for the floor. By releasing a draft early in September, Boxer has the potential to maximize her influence over the Senate process that will unfold this September.

1Sky's strategy regarding EPW: By pushing the entire Senate for strengthening changes that we know Boxer's committee is already considering, we put wind behind the sails of members who are championing our top issues in the Senate. If the grassroots can provide cover for a stronger bill, it will embolden our champions to make the fixes we're looking for.

Assuming that EPW follows through on Boxer's plans to strengthen the bill, we can then approach the broader Senate from a position of strength -- pushing to maintain the stronger points already included in the draft legislation, rather than asking for more throughout the process, like we were in the House. That being said, maintaining the presumed strength of the EPW draft on the floor will be extremely difficult if not impossible. The EPW bill can also be used as a lever to stave off weakening efforts.

Our latest full list e-mail, and fax campaign looks to set the stage for a summer of sustained pressure on three key strengthening points -- it’s one click to send a letter to your Senators now!

3. Strengthening Outlook beyond EPW:

Chances are, as the Senate bill moves from EPW toward the floor, it will generally be compromised to pick up more votes with occasional opportunities for strengthening. Looking forward, here's what we can expect for other specific provisions that need work:

RES (Renewable Electricity Standard): As we've mentioned in previous weeks, the RES that has passed out of the Senate Energy committee will likely be revisited on the floor. Loud support for clean energy over August recess will be crucial in strengthening this weak element of the bill. An energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) introduced by Sen. Charles "Chuck" Schumer (D-NY) that would mandate 15% electricity savings and 10% natural gas savings in utilities across the country could save Americans almost $170 billion, create over 220,000 jobs and eliminate the need to build 390 power plants.

Allocations: Right now it appears that two competing allocation schemes will be released by the EPW and Finance Committees. We need to limit allocations to polluting industries (oil and coal), and increase allocations for funds that bolster clean energy and climate programs (renewables, efficiency, adaptation, job training). The final allocation scheme will likely be worked out by Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) based on the two drafts and broader discussions. Meanwhile, thirty four Nobel Prize winners recently sent a letter to President Obama calling for more funding for renewable energy than what ACES included (PDF).

A study released by state utility regulators and consumer advocates has revealed that the 5% of allocations going to deregulated coal plants (merchant coal) will cost residential electricity consumers significantly more than more free allocations to Local Distribution Companies (regulated power retailers).

1Sky's strategy: Be loud in August: Getting these specific policy fixes begins with pushing Senators to embrace bigger goals: "more clean energy," "more green jobs." If the grassroots aren't loud back home, there won't be much room to improve the bill when Senators return to work this September. More on our August strategy soon.

4. Hot Issues in the Senate

Agriculture: Ag Committee Chairman Harkin (D-IA) is sending mixed signals as to whether or not the Agriculture Committee will hold a mark-up on climate legislation. It is possible that we will see a repeat of House agricultural activity, with all provisions included in a deal with leadership. The American Farm Bureau Federation wants the provisions from the House Ag compromise to be included in a Senate bill, but they've recently stated that they'll be looking for more.

International Competitiveness: China is dominating international renewable energy markets, and will continue to do so unless the U.S ramps up renewable deployment in new legislation. Increasing U.S competitiveness through renewables however, is still widely debated inside of the EPW Committee.

Nuclear Power: In all three EPW hearings, Sen. Alexander (R-TN) bemoaned the unwillingness of ACES to acknowledge nuclear power as a renewable energy source, repeatedly citing the fact that 70% of U.S carbon-free electricity is generated via nukes. Also, at a press function this week, Sen. Alexander (R-TN) unveiled his ideal nuclear plan: 100 new nukes in 20 years. In an unexpected move, the Senator admitted that the plan could cost upwards of $700 billion, seven times the cost of the bill he calls a “$100 billion a year job-killing national energy tax that will create a new utility bill for every American family.”

Sen. McCain (R-AZ) may join Sen. Lieberman (I-CT) in courting up to 10 moderate Republicans over a big nuclear title in the new bill. However, in recent statements Sens. Landrieu (D-LA), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D), Lincoln (D-AR), McCain (R-AZ), Murkowski (R-AK), and Corker (R-TN) have made it clear that they are not guaranteed 'yes' votes even if a significant nuclear title is included.

5. Antics from Climate Opposition

In other news:

  • Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has put a hold on the Senate confirmation of EPA Deputy Administrator Robert Perciasepe, citing unhappiness with the Agency's analyses of ACES;

  • During a hearing yesterday, tension emerged between Chairwoman Boxer and the Chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. The NBOC has a historically anti-climate platform, and the Chairman claimed racial overtones when Sen. Boxer referenced a resolution in support of climate action signed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For more see Blog for our Future and Grist.

6. International Developments

7. Inspiration

Prepared by Jason Kowalski and Rhiya Trivedi. Comments? Contact: jason@1sky.org.

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