Iowa Global Warming » Senate

Sen. Boxer says MidAmerican trying to block reduction of greenhouse gas

Drew Veysey — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:00:35 +0000

Washington, D.C. — The Senate’s chief architect of climate legislation accused MidAmerican Energy of trying to block reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

“Where I see you going is for the status quo,” Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., told MidAmerican’s chief executive, William Fehrman, at a hearing Thursday. “The problem for you is that the status quo is about to change.”

Boxer leads the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which is taking the lead in developing the Senate’s version of legislation that would require utilities, refiners and other companies to reduce carbon emissions. MidAmerican said it is following up on Boxer’s request to “work with us,” and is trying to schedule a meeting with her.

MidAmerican has been leading opposition among coal-dependent Midwest utilities to a cap-and-trade approach approved by the House that would set limits on emissions and require power companies to buy allowances, or credits, for emissions that can’t be eliminated through changing fuels, efficiency or other means.

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Climate Loopholes

Drew Veysey — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:21:27 +0000

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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Climate, energy on Vilsack agenda at confirmation

Andrew — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:30:34 +0000

Tom Vilsack is promising to use the U.S. Department of Agriculture to “aggressively address” global warming and energy independence.

In an opening statement prepared for his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for agriculture secretary also said he would use the department to “create real and meaningful opportunities” for farmers and to guarantee that rural communities grow and prosper.

The former Iowa governor provides no policy specifics in the relatively brief statement, just more than two pages in length. A copy of the statement was obtained by The Des Moines Register on Monday.

Vilsack’s hearing is before the Senate agriculture committee, which is chaired by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin.

Senators typically use such hearings to impress their priorities on incoming members of the new administration. The nominees usually avoid discussing specific plans.

Vilsack said the USDA faces historic challenges because of the economic slowdown, global climate change and growing world demand for food.

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