Iowa Global Warming

The House’s approval of the Waxman-Markey climate change bill earlier this month was a remarkable political achievement and an important beginning to the task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But in all the last-minute wheeling and dealing, the House bill acquired two big loopholes that the Senate must close.

The first loophole involves coal-fired power plants. Coal is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel — producing more than half the electricity in the United States — and also its dirtiest, with twice the carbon content of natural gas.

The House bill would limit emissions from coal-fired power plants in two ways. It imposes a cap on emissions from all industrial facilities that tightens slowly over time. It also sets tough performance standards on new power plants permitted after 2009, requiring emissions reductions of 50 percent or more. The bill would help underwrite advanced technologies capable of capturing carbon dioxide and storing it underground.

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A rule was proposed Tuesday by the EPA that would require 13,000 factories, power plants and other facilities to record and report all greenhouse gas emissions. It would be put into effect under the Clean Air Act and would require the reporting of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other greenhouse gases.

“This is the foundation of any serious program to cap and reduce global warming pollution,” said David Doniger, policy director for the climate center at the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC).

The data compiled through this rule is meant to later assist in the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. It will cover 85 to 90 percent of greenhouse gases in the US. Small businesses will be exempt from reporting.

There will be a 60-day comment period and two public hearings on the rule. If put into effect, industries will begin to monitor emissions in 2010 and report in 2011.

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