GHG Emission Limits Proposals from the 109th Congress

S. 131: [1]Clear Skies Act, which would require reductions of power plant emissions of SO₂, NO_X, and mercury, but not CO₂, and would exempt new power plants from the current requirement that they disclose their CO₂ emissions. Sponsor: Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) (1 cosponsor) – Action: 3/9/05: Marked up by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, but not voted out of committee by a vote of 9 – 9. (A majority vote is needed to report a bill out of committee.)

S. 150: [2] Clean Power Act, which would require reductions of CO₂, as well as SO₂, NO_X, and mercury emissions, from electric power plants. CO₂ emissions would be reduced to 1990 levels by 2010. Sponsor: Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) (17 cosponsors)

S. 342: [3] Climate Stewardship Act, which would cap the GHG emissions of the electricity, manufacturing, commercial and transportation sectors of the economy (representing 85% of U.S. emissions) at the 2000 level by 2010. Emitters would be able to trade GHG emissions credits and get credit for pre-enactment GHG reductions, carbon sequestration, and international GHG reductions, up to a limit. The bill also provides for a program of scientific research on climate change, creates a national GHG database, and establishes the Climate Change Credit Corporation. (See S.1151 and S.Amdt.826 below). Sponsor: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (15 cosponsors)

S. 730: [4] Mercury Emissions Act, which would require reductions of CO₂, as well as SO₂, NO_X, and mercury emissions, from electric power plants, and require reductions of mercury emissions from a wide variety of sources. CO₂ emissions would be reduced to 1990 levels by 2009. Sponsor: Sen. Patrick Leahy (I-VT) (1 cosponsor)

S. 1151: [5] Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which is identical to S.342 (see above) except that it also increases the incentives for development of climate-friendly technologies, including integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) advanced coal power generating facilities that use carbon capture technology with geological storage of GHGs; advanced nuclear reactors; large-scale biofuels facilities that maximize cellulosic biomass use, and large scale solar power facilities. Sponsor: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (1 cosponsor)

S. 2724: [6] Clean Air Planning Act, which would require reductions of CO₂, as well as SO₂, NO_X, and mercury emissions, from electric power plants. CO₂ emissions would be reduced to 2001 levels by 2015. The bill would also establish emission allowance trading programs for CO₂. Sponsor: Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) (7 cosponsors)

S. 3698: [7] Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, which would reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2050, and authorizes the establishment of emissions markets to meet these targets. The bill would also set GHG emission standards for automobile fleets and electric generation facilities identical to those enacted by the state of California. The bill would also authorize EPA to accelerate the reductions if the National Academy of Sciences reports that global atmospheric concentrations in excess of 450 ppm CO₂ equivalent or an increase of global average temperatures above 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees C) have occurred or are more likely than not to occur in the foreseeable future. Additionally, the bill would set energy efficiency improvement standards and renewable energy standards for retail electricity suppliers as well as require all major stationary sources of GHG pollution report their emissions on an annual basis. The bill would also establish a task force to support the development and implementation of low-carbon energy technologies in developing countries, set a goal for the renewable content of gasoline and mandate that corporations inform investors of the potential impacts of global warming on corporate interests.
Sponsor: Sen. James Jeffords (I-VT) (10 cosponsors)

S. 4039: [8] Global Warming Reduction Act, which would reduce GHG emissions to 85% percent of 2010 levels by 2020 and to 35% of 2010 levels by 2050, and authorizes the establishment of emissions markets to meet these targets. The bill would also set GHG emission standards for automobile fleets. Requires the US to derive 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Includes a resolution urging the United States to re-engage in international climate negotiations. Sponsor: Sen. John F. Kerry (D-MA) (1 cosponsor)

S. Amdt. 826: Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act, which increases the incentives for development of climate-friendly technologies, including integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) advanced coal power generating facilities that use carbon capture technology with geological storage of GHGs; advanced nuclear reactors; large-scale biofuels facilities that maximize cellulosic biomass use, and large scale solar power facilities. (Identical to S.1151.) Sponsor: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (1 cosponsor) – Action: 6/22/05: Offered as an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) during Senate debate. Not agreed to by a vote of 38 – 60.

S. Amdt. 866: Sense of the Senate on Climate Change, a nonbinding resolution that finds there is a growing scientific consensus that human activity is a substantial cause of GHG accumulation in the atmosphere, and expresses the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact a national program of mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of GHGs that slow, stop, and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that will not significantly harm the U.S. economy, and will encourage comparable action by other nations that are major trading partners and key contributors to global emissions. Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) (10 cosponsors) – Action: 6/22/05: Offered as an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) during Senate debate. Agreed to by voice vote after a motion to table the amendment was defeated by a vote of 44 – 53. (A vote against a “motion to table” an amendment is generally considered a vote in favor of the amendment.)

S. Amdt. 868: Climate and Economy Insurance Act, which would establish an annual target for GHG emissions, though regulated entities could exceed the target by paying a “safety valve” price for emission allowances. (The bill is based on the recommendations of the National Commission on Energy Policy of $7 per ton of CO₂, released in 2004.) Would also promote the use of clean energy technologies in developing countries through provisions identical to S.745 [9]. Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
For more information, see the Pew Center's analysis of S.Amdt.868. [10]

Proposed Amendment to Clear Skies Act (S.131) on Climate Change, under which the Department of Energy (DOE) would establish a nonbinding goal for electricity generating facilities of 4% GHG emissions reduction from the 2000 – 2002 timeframe by 2010. By 2011, DOE would report to Congress on the industry’s progress towards the goal and additional actions that could achieve further reduction in the industry’s GHG emissions. The amendment would also establish a climate change technology office and a geologic carbon sequestration program at DOE, a forest carbon sequestration program and an agricultural carbon sequestration measurement program at USDA, and a climate change research initiative at the Department of Commerce.
Sponsor: Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-OH) – Action: 3/9/05: Filed, but not offered, as an amendment to the Clear Skies Act (S.131) during markup by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Proposed Second Degree Amendment to Voinovich Climate Change Amendment (see above), which would change the original amendment’s goal of 4% GHG emissions reduction to 4% GHG emissions intensity reduction. (A “second degree” amendment amends another amendment, referred to as a “first degree” amendment. In this case, Sen. Voinovich filed his second degree amendment to correct an apparent error – the omission of the word “intensity” – in his own previously-filed first degree amendment). Sponsor: Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-OH) – Action: 3/9/05: Filed, but not offered, during markup by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

H.R. 759: [11] Climate Stewardship Act, which would cap the GHG emissions of the electricity, manufacturing, commercial and transportation sectors of the economy (representing 85% of U.S. emissions) at the 2000 level by 2010. Emitters would be able to trade GHG emissions credits and get credit for pre-enactment GHG reductions, carbon sequestration, and international GHG reductions, up to a limit. The bill also provides for a program of scientific research on climate change and establishes a national GHG database (identical to S. 342 [3]). Sponsor: Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) (98 cosponsors)

H. Res. 971: [12] A nonbinding resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should enact legislation to slow, stop, and reverse the growth of the Nation's dependence on imported oil in ways that provide cleaner air, reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and enhance America's competitiveness. Sponsor: Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) (3 cosponsors)

H.R. 1451: [13] Clean Smokestacks Act, which would require reductions of CO₂, as well as SO₂, NO_X, and mercury emissions, from electric power plants. CO₂ emissions would be reduced to 1990 levels by 2010.
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) (23 cosponsors)

H.R. 1873: [14] Clean Air Planning Act, which would require reductions of CO₂, as well as SO₂, NO_X, and mercury emissions, from electric power plants. CO₂ emissions would be reduced to 2006 levels by 2010 and to 2001 levels by 2015. Sponsor: Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) (3 cosponsors)

H.R. 2828: [15] New Apollo Energy Act, which includes a slightly modified version of H.R. 759 [11] (see above). The bill would also, among other things, establish a national goal of reducing total CO₂ emissions in the United States to the 2000 level by 2015; authorize a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of carbon sequestration and carbon recapture methods with the goal of sequestering 20% of US GHG emissions from stationary sources by 2010, 40% by 2015, and 60% by 2020; create tax incentives for emission control systems that removes or reduces at least 90% of CO₂ emissions; guarantee up to 80% of the principal of any loan for a coal-burning power plant that sequesters at least 90% of its CO₂ emissions; authorize a pilot program for financial assistance for projects in developing countries that result in a GHG reduction per unit of energy produced (compared to the technology that would otherwise be implemented) of at least 20% for a unit in service before 2010; 40% if put in service between 2010 and 2020; or 60% if put in service between 2020 and 2030. (See proposed amendment (Inslee #50) under Energy Policy below.) Sponsor: Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) (21 cosponsors)

H.R. 5049: [16] Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act, which would establish a market-based system to regulate GHG emissions. The bill includes a “safety valve” provision that would enable corporations to purchase an unlimited number of additional emission allowances at the set price of $25 per ton of carbon (equal to about $7 per ton of CO₂) should they be unable to satisfy their emissions reduction obligations through permits traded on the market. The bill also provides for the establishment of an Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Energy to engage in advanced energy research, technology development and deployment. Sponsor: Rep. Tom Udall (D-NM) (1 cosponsor)

Amendment to H.R. 5386: The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which expresses the sense of the Congress that a program of mandatory, market-based limits on GHG emissions should be enacted. Sponsor: Rep. Norman Dicks (D-WA) -- Action: 5/18/06: Agreed to by House Appropriations Committee by voice vote. 5/18/06: Struck by House on a point-of-order. (Language in appropriations bills that do not pertain to spending are subject to being struck on a point-of-order.)

H.R. 5642: [17] Safe Climate Act, which would reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. The bill would also set GHG emission standards for automobile fleets and electric generation facilities identical to those enacted by the state of California. The bill would also require the National Academy of Sciences to identify needed further reductions if any of the following events has occurred or is likely to occur: atmospheric GHG concentrations in excess of 450 ppm CO₂ equivalent; global mean surface temperature above 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees C); substantial slowing of the Atlantic thermohaline circulation; sea level rise of more than 8 inches; ice-free Arctic Ocean in the summer; decrease in the area of permafrost to below 50% of such area in 2000; or loss of over 40% of the world’s coverage of coral reefs, due to increased ocean temperature or acidity. The bill would also establish a national renewable energy standard and a national energy efficiency standard.
Sponsor: Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) (85 cosponsors)

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