Electric Co-op Today

Editor’s note: Congress is in recess after failing to adopt a climate change bill, while the Environmental Protection Agency is proceeding with its regulatory plans. In this Q&A, Kirk Johnson, NRECA vice president of energy and environmental policy, assesses the state of climate change policy.

Q. Is climate change legislation dead for the year?

A. With Congress, it’s “never say never,” but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid abandoned his efforts to bring a climate change bill to the Senate floor because the votes are not there to pass it. Because of the possibility of a filibuster in the Senate, it’s difficult to proceed with major legislation unless you have 60 votes in hand. There’s no indication at this time that there are 60 votes for any kind of climate bill.

Q. Does that mean EPA will be regulating greenhouse gases?

Starting next year, EPA will regulate greenhouse gases from stationary sources like power plants for the first time. (Photo By: Basin Electric Power Cooperative)

A. Yes. This is not a proposal; this is a reality. EPA has finalized regulations that will regulate greenhouse gas emissions for the first time from transportation and stationary sources, like power plants, under the Clean Air Act. That will start in January.

Sen. Jay Rockefeller is sponsoring a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on climate change regulations from EPA.

NRECA is in favor of that time-out because we believe that the Clean Air Act is the wrong vehicle for regulation. The Rockefeller bill would give Congress time to put together a different approach to the issue, instead of leaving it to EPA.

Q. Does the bill stand a chance of passing?

A. Rockefeller has been promised a floor vote on his bill, but it’s unclear when that might happen. It could be later this year, in a lame duck session, or even next year.

We’re urging members to stay in touch with their elected officials in Congress in support of the two-year delay. If it does come to a vote, it is likely to be a close one in the Senate, and it would face an even more uncertain future in the House. The administration has said it will veto the bill if it passes Congress.

Tags: Climate Change, Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas