Proposed Bills on: National Security and Climate Change
The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (L-W CSA). This bill would establish a cap-and-trade program within the United States requiring a 70% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from covered sources, which represent over 80% of total U.S. emissions. The bill as amended also includes complementary policies, such as a low carbon fuel standard and provisions aimed at enhancing energy efficiency. Taken together, the bill’s sponsors believe these provisions will reduce overall U.S. GHG emissions roughly 63% by 2050.
The L-W CSA divides the six GHGs into two categories: Group I (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, and perfluorocarbons) and Group II (hydrofluorcarbons). For all GHGs, the bill uses the common unit of measurement CO2 equivalent (CO2e)—the quantity of GHGs that the U.S. EPA has determined makes the same contribution to global warming as one metric ton of CO2. The L-W CSA would create two separate caps, one covering facilities that produce HFCs and the other covering facilities that:
· Use more that 5,000 tons of coal annually;
· Process, produce, or import natural gas;
· Produce or import petroleum or coal-based fuel that when combusted will emit a Group I GHG;
· Produce for sale or distribution or import more than 10,000 CO2e of chemicals that are group I GHGs, assuming no capture or permanent sequestration
· Emit as a by-product of HCFC production more than 10,000 CO2e of HFCs
Overall, the two caps combined are expected to cover over 80% of total U.S. GHG emissions, although some process related emissions are not covered.
The cap on facilities producing HFCs would start in 2010 at 300 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) and decline to 90 MMTCO2e by 2037, remaining at that level through 2050. Emissions from all other covered facilities would be capped at 5775 MMTCO2e in 2012, with this cap decreasing annually to 1732 MMTCO2e in 2050. The two caps combined would result in roughly a 19% reduction from 2005 levels in 2020 and a 70% reduction from 2005 levels by 2050.Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2030, the L-W CSA would provide transition assistance in the form of free allowances to electric power generators (19%), manufacturers (10%), fuel producers or importers (2%), HFC producers and importers (2%), and rural electric cooperatives (1%). In addition, 5% of the total emission allowance account will be allocated to early actors from 2012-2017 and 4% for carbon, capture and sequestration activities from 2012-2030. Approximately 30.5% of the total allowance account will be set aside from 2012-2050 for other entities, including states, load-serving entities, farms and forests, coal mines, and others. Starting in 2012, 26.5% of allowances would be auctioned (including 5% for an early auction to be held shortly after enactment), with the proceeds going to energy technology deployment, low-and middle-income energy consumers, adaptation efforts in the U.S., and programs to support energy independence and national security. Over time, the auction will grow so that by 2031, 69.5% of the allowances would be auctioned and the revenue used for these purposes.
The L-W CSA allows covered facilities to satisfy up to 15% of their compliance obligation with specific domestic offsets. An additional 15% can be covered using international emission allowances. Unlimited banking is allowed and owners and operators of covered facilities can borrow up to 15% of their annual compliance obligation from future years. The L-W CSA also creates a Carbon Market Efficiency Board to monitor the carbon trading market and implement specific cost relief measures, including increased borrowing and use of offsets.
The L-W CSA includes a review of the commitments of other major-emitting nations to reduce their GHG emissions. Eight years after enactment the President is authorized to require importers of GHG emission-intensive products from countries that have not taken action comparable to the U.S. to submit credits equal to those required of domestic manufactures.
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-CT) (9 Cosponsors)

