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Papabull
06-28-2009, 03:08 PM
Read it and weep. It doesn't take more than one read through to realize just how severe the damage from this bill would be.

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5/15/2009--Introduced.

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to establish a combined efficiency and renewable electricity standard that requires utilities to supply an increasing percentage of their demand from a combination of energy efficiency savings and renewable energy (6% in 2012, 9.5% in 2014, 13% in 2016, 16.5% in 2018, and 20% in 2021-2039). Provides for: (1) issuing, trading, banking, retiring, and verifying renewable electricity credits; and (2) prescribing standards to define and measure electricity savings from energy efficiency and energy conservation measures.
Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) set forth a national strategy to address barriers to the commercial-scale deployment of carbon capture and sequestration; (2) establish an approach to certify and permit geologic sequestration; and (3) promulgate regulations to minimize the risk of escape to the atmosphere of carbon dioxide injected for purposes of geological sequestration. Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator to promulgate regulations for sequestration wells.

Sets forth: (1) a process to establish a Carbon Storage Research Corporation to collect assessments from distribution utilities of fossil fuel-based electricity delivered directly to consumers; and (2) performance standards for new coal-fired power plants.
Amends PURPA to provide for the development of electric vehicle infrastructure. Requires the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to establish: (1) a large-scale vehicle electrification program; and (2) a program to provide financial assistance for the manufacture of plug-in electric drive vehicles. Requires the Administrator to establish a program under which a state may create a State Energy and Environment Development Account.

Sets forth provisions concerning the development of a smart grid, including provisions: (1) amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide for the inclusion of smart grid capability information on appliance energy guide labels; (2) requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to support load-serving entities in developing their peak demand reduction goals; (3) amending the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize the energy efficiency public information program and to include smart grid information in it; and (4) reauthorizing the energy efficient and smart appliance rebate program and revising it to include smart-grid features.

Amends the Federal Power Act to require FERC to adopt electricity grid planning principles derived from a federal policy (established by this Act) on electric grid planning that facilitates the deployment of renewable and other zero-carbon energy sources for generating electricity to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) while ensuring reliability, reducing congestion, ensuring cyber-security, and providing for cost-effective electricity services.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to revise: (1) rules regarding improving energy efficiency in industrial equipment; (2) efficiency standards for electric motors; (3) conservation standards for lighting and appliances; and (4) the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles.

Requires the Secretary to establish Clean Energy Innovation Centers to promote commercial deployment of clean, indigenous energy alternatives to fossil fuels, to reduce GHG emissions, and to ensure that the United States maintains a lead in developing and deploying state-of-the-art energy technologies.

Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to revise energy conservation standards for new buildings. Requires the Administrator to establish: (1) standards for a national energy and environmental building retrofit policy for residences; and (2) a building energy performance labeling program. Establishes a rebate program to assist low-income households residing in pre-1976 manufactured homes in purchasing new Energy Star qualified manufactured homes.

Requires the Secretary to establish a Best-in-Class Appliances Deployment Program.

Requires the President to use statutory authorities to set motor vehicle emissions standards. Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to promulgate standards applicable to GHG emissions from specified mobile sources, including heavy-duty vehicles and engines, new marine vessels, locomotives, and aircraft. Establishes within EPA a SmartWay Transport Program, a SmartWay Transport Partnership program, and a SmartWay Financing Program.

Requires the Secretary to establish a program to make monetary awards to encourage owners and operators of electric energy generation facilities or thermal energy production facilities using fossil or nuclear fuel to use innovative means of recovering any thermal energy that is a potentially useful byproduct of their processes to: (1) generate additional electric energy; or (2) make sales of thermal energy not used for electric generation, in the form of steam, hot water, chilled water, or desiccant regeneration, or for other commercially valid purposes.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to community development organizations to provide financing to businesses and projects that improve energy efficiency, develop alternative, renewable, and distributed energy supplies, provide technical assistance and promote job and business opportunities for low-income residents, and increase energy conservation in low income rural and urban communities.
Safe Climate Act - Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to promulgate regulations to: (1) cap and reduce GHG emissions, annually, so that GHG emissions from capped sources are reduced to 97% of 2005 levels by 2012, 83% by 2020, 58% by 2030, and 17% by 2050; and (2) establish a federal GHG registry.

Designates carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from a chemical manufacturing process at an industrial stationary source, perfluorocarbons, and nitrogen trifluoride as GHGs and establishes a carbon dioxide equivalent value for each gas. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, introducing into interstate commerce, or emitting a significant quantity of certain fluorinated gas that is generated as a byproduct during the production or use of another fluorinated gas.

Requires the Administrator to establish specified emission allowances (annual tonnage limits) for: (1) each of 2012-2049; and (2) 2050 and thereafter. Provides for the establishment and distribution of compensatory allowances for the destruction and conversionary use of fluorinated gases and the nonemissive use of petroleum-based or coal-based liquid or gaseous fuel, petroleum coke, natural gas liquid, or natural gas as a feedstock.

Phases in prohibitions against covered entities (including electricity sources, fuel producers and importers, industrial gas producers and importers, geological sequestration sites, industrial stationary sources, industrial fossil fuel-fired combustion devices, natural gas local distribution companies, nitrogen trifluoride sources, algae-based fuels, and fugitive emissions) exceeding allowable emission levels. Requires covered entities to demonstrate compliance through: (1) holding emission allowances (including international emission or compensatory allowances) at least as great as attributable emissions (as specified); or (2) using offset credits. Sets forth penalties for noncompliance.

Provides for trading, banking and borrowing, auctioning, selling, exchanging, transferring, holding, or retiring emission allowances.

Requires the Administrator to: (1) establish a strategic reserve account and place into that account specified amounts (ranging from 1% to 3%) of the emission allowances for each of calendar years 2012-2050; and (2) auction such strategic reserve allowances once each quarter of each of such years.

Requires stationary sources subject to the CAA to have permits that require the covered entity to hold a number of emission allowances at least equal to the total annual amount of carbon dioxide equivalents for its combined emissions and attributable GHG emissions.

Authorizes the Administrator to designate an international climate change program as a qualifying international program for purposes of international emission allowances provisions, if certain conditions are met.

Establishes the Offsets Integrity Advisory Board. Requires the Administrator, considering the Board's recommendations, to promulgate regulations establishing a program for the issuance of offset credits.

Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations concerning reducing GHG emissions from deforestation in developing countries.
Sets forth provisions governing the disposition of emission allowances, including specifying allocations: (1) for supplemental emissions reductions from reduced deforestation; (2) for the benefit of electricity, natural gas, and/or home heating oil and propane consumers; (3) for auction, with proceeds for the benefit of low income consumers and worker investment; (4) to energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries; (5) for the deployment of carbon capture and sequestration technology; (6) to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy; (7) to be distributed to Clean Energy Innovation Centers; (8) to invest in the development and deployment of clean vehicles; (9) to domestic refiners; (10) for domestic and international adaptation; (11) for domestic wildlife and natural resource adaptation; and (12) for international clean technology deployment.

Requires the Administrator to auction off certain unused allowances and to deposit the proceeds for 2012-2025 into the Treasury and for 2026-2050 into the Climate Change Dividend Fund. Requires the President to distribute funds in the Consumer Climate Change Rebate Fund (established by this Act) to U.S. households.

Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to promulgate GHG emission performance standards for specified categories of stationary sources that: (1) have uncapped GHG emissions greater than 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and are responsible for emitting at least 20% of the uncapped GHG gas emission annually; or (2) are responsible for at least 10% of the uncapped methane emissions.
Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to phase down the consumption of and regulate the production of HFCs. Specifies consumption allowances for: (1) each of 2012-2032; and (2) 2033 and thereafter. Provides for: (1) the distribution, auction, banking, exchange, and international transfer of such allowances; and (2) the issuance of offset credits for the destruction of chlorofluorocarbons. Establishes the Stratospheric Ozone and Climate Protection Fund, into which the Administrator shall deposit all proceeds from the sale of such allowances.

Requires the Administrator to promulgate regulations to reduce emissions of black carbon (light absorbing component of carbonaceous aerosols) or propose a finding that existing CAA regulations adequately regulate such emissions.

Prohibits states from implementing a cap and trade program that covers any capped emissions emitted during 2012-2017.
Amends the Federal Power Act to require FERC to promulgate regulations for the establishment, operation, and oversight of markets for regulated allowances. Requires the President to establish an interagency working group on carbon market oversight.
Amends the Commodity Exchange Act to provide for transactions in derivatives that involve energy commodities. Gives the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jurisdiction over the establishment, operations, and oversight of markets for regulated allowance derivatives.

Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to: (1) distribute emission allowance rebates to eligible industrial sectors (with eligibility based on specified energy, GHG, or trade intensity criteria); and (2) provide for the sale of and require submission of international reserve allowances by U.S. importers of products of industrial sectors that the President determines have suffered certain negative impacts from compliance with GHG emission requirements.

Sets forth provisions concerning green jobs and worker transition, including: (1) authorizing the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible partnerships to develop programs of study focused on emerging careers and jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation; and (2) providing climate change adjustment assistance to adversely affected workers.
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain low income taxpayers a refundable energy tax credit to compensate such taxpayers for reductions in their purchasing power, as identified and calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), resulting from regulation of GHGs.

Requires: (1) the Administrator to implement the Energy Refund Program to give low-income households a monthly cash energy refund equal to the estimated loss in purchasing power resulting from this Act; (2) the Secretary of State to oversee distributions of allowances from the International Clean Technology Account; (3) the President to establish within the United States Global Change Research Program a National Climate Change Adaptation Program; (4) the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a National Climate Service; (5) the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to publish a strategic action plan to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change; (6) the President to develop a Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Strategy; and (7) the Secretary of State to establish an International Climate Change Adaptation Program.

Bill McDaniel
06-28-2009, 05:12 PM
Well boss, this will kill the heartland of this country.

Bowcephalus
06-28-2009, 07:12 PM
"Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to community development organizations to provide financing to businesses and projects that improve energy efficiency, develop alternative, renewable, and distributed energy supplies, provide technical assistance and promote job and business opportunities for low-income residents, and increase energy conservation in low income rural and urban communities."


Obama's big ACORN cash cow funneling mechanism.

The big payoff.

Bowcephalus
06-28-2009, 07:55 PM
"Amends the CAA to require the Administrator to: (1) distribute emission allowance rebates to eligible industrial sectors (with eligibility based on specified energy, GHG, or trade intensity criteria); and (2) provide for the sale of and require submission of international reserve allowances by U.S. importers of products of industrial sectors that the President determines have suffered certain negative impacts from compliance with GHG emission requirements."



Straight out of the Fascist handbook.

Dartwick
06-29-2009, 04:45 AM
I have serious doubts that this will pass the senate as is.

I disagree with most of you on the need to tax energy but besides that this bill is a disaster.
Its needlessly convoluted in achieving is primary goal which means bureaucracy and wasted money plus its jammed with special interests.

Papabull
06-29-2009, 08:09 AM
Well, then I think we're in agreement. While I question the value and wisdom of taxing energy more, at least that's debatable.

NJWoodsman
06-30-2009, 08:56 AM
Funny how different people can read the same thing and come away with completely different interpretations. Besides "cap and trade", there's a lot in there about conservation, modernizing the grid, limiting industrial pollution, better appliances, and limiting vehicle emissions.

Not so long ago cars didn't have pollution controls, smokestacks didn't have scrubbers, freon and other CFC's were routinely released into the air, and industries polluted rivers. We learned things like this were damaging the environment, and legislation like the Clean Air Act helped put an end to it.

Papabull
06-30-2009, 09:13 AM
Yes, if you look through it, you can cherry pick some pretty nice things out of it. But a few grains of wheat in the cow patty doesn't make it a loaf of bread.

Dartwick
06-30-2009, 11:34 AM
To be honest I bet 30 years ago you would have been saying scrubbers are unfair government restrictions that are bad for America.

Its not a matter of "cherry picking." We need more restrictions. ts just that this bill makes simple ideas complicated and more expensive than they need to be.

Papabull
06-30-2009, 11:56 AM
To be honest I bet 30 years ago you would have been saying scrubbers are unfair government restrictions that are bad for America.

Its not a matter of "cherry picking." We need more restrictions. ts just that this bill makes simple ideas complicated and more expensive than they need to be.

And I'll bet 30 years ago you'd have said that onerous environmental regulations and restrictions wouldn't have a negative impact on our manufacturing and industry, too. Maybe you still think that. Maybe it's just pure coincidence that the more our government hammers on our industry the more the industry moves to other countries.

I don't know why I bother discussing this stuff any more because I'm pretty convinced that the dumbing down of this country is so complete that there's no turning the clock back. I don't see this country turning it's fate around in my lifetime. There are too many people with their heads up their ass. It will take some bouncing around on rock bottom before it knocks some sense into our collective heads. And in that respect, I think Obama may be good for us. He's certainly doing his part to speed up our trip to rock bottom.

Dartwick
06-30-2009, 01:51 PM
And I'll bet 30 years ago you'd have said that onerous environmental regulations and restrictions wouldn't have a negative impact on our manufacturing and industry, too. Maybe you still think that. Maybe it's just pure coincidence that the more our government hammers on our industry the more the industry moves to other countries.

I don't know why I bother discussing this stuff any more because I'm pretty convinced that the dumbing down of this country is so complete that there's no turning the clock back. I don't see this country turning it's fate around in my lifetime. There are too many people with their heads up their ass. It will take some bouncing around on rock bottom before it knocks some sense into our collective heads. And in that respect, I think Obama may be good for us. He's certainly doing his part to speed up our trip to rock bottom.


Where have I ever said environmental protect doesnt harm industry - Its terrible for it at least when we have free trade with unregulated countries it is.

But then you are all for free trade.

Basically you are the guy who represents the "burn the earth to a crisp because Ill be dead before it matters."

Im not.

Papabull
06-30-2009, 02:15 PM
Basically you are the guy who represents the "burn the earth to a crisp because Ill be dead before it matters."

Im not.

I'm the guy who thinks strawman arguments like that mean you can't support your position rationally.

raisins
06-30-2009, 02:43 PM
To be honest I bet 30 years ago you would have been saying scrubbers are unfair government restrictions that are bad for America.

Its not a matter of "cherry picking." We need more restrictions. ts just that this bill makes simple ideas complicated and more expensive than they need to be.

A liberal can become a conservative by not changing a single idea and just waiting about 50 years.

raisins
06-30-2009, 02:45 PM
And I'll bet 30 years ago you'd have said that onerous environmental regulations and restrictions wouldn't have a negative impact on our manufacturing and industry, too. Maybe you still think that. Maybe it's just pure coincidence that the more our government hammers on our industry the more the industry moves to other countries.

I don't know why I bother discussing this stuff any more because I'm pretty convinced that the dumbing down of this country is so complete that there's no turning the clock back. I don't see this country turning it's fate around in my lifetime. There are too many people with their heads up their ass. It will take some bouncing around on rock bottom before it knocks some sense into our collective heads. And in that respect, I think Obama may be good for us. He's certainly doing his part to speed up our trip to rock bottom.

I believe you are describing a 'race to the bottom'. As long as workers and the environment in another country are treated worse than here at home, there will be good reason for off-shoring.

Dartwick
06-30-2009, 02:57 PM
I'm the guy who thinks strawman arguments like that mean you can't support your position rationally.


Wrong. I made my argument on the subject.
People have disagreed but no one has refuted any of it.

Papabull
06-30-2009, 03:26 PM
Wrong. I made my argument on the subject.
People have disagreed but no one has refuted any of it.

Dartwick, this isn't an argument:

"Basically you are the guy who represents the "burn the earth to a crisp because Ill be dead before it matters."

I'm not.

That's not an argument. That's drivel.

Dartwick
06-30-2009, 03:33 PM
Perhaps you were confused. Your preceding statement included.




I don't know why I bother discussing this stuff any more because I'm pretty convinced that the dumbing down of this country is so complete that there's no turning the clock back. I don't see this country turning it's fate around in my lifetime. There are too many people with their heads up their ass.

I thought it was rather clear that neither of us was any longer addressing the thread subject.
But if you feel what you said was an argument then by all means expand on it so I can see. It seems to me to be a commentary on your perception of the world

I really had no problem with where the topic had turned but dont pretend you though I was trying to argue the topic at that point.

Papabull
06-30-2009, 03:40 PM
Perhaps you were confused. Your preceding statement included.




I thought it was rather clear that neither of us was any longer addressing the thread subject.
But if you feel what you said was an argument then by all means expand on it so I can see. It seems to me to be a commentary on your perception of the world

I really had no problem with where the topic had turned but dont pretend you though I was trying to argue the topic at that point.

Oh, OK. We're all good then. Although I must say that it's not my perception of the world, per se even though it is my perception of liberals. At any rate, in case you didn't know why a lot of people who work for a living get bent out of shape when liberals want to take more of the money they earn, I hope that explained it.

raisins
06-30-2009, 03:45 PM
Oh, OK. We're all good then. Although I must say that it's not my perception of the world, per se even though it is my perception of liberals. At any rate, in case you didn't know why a lot of people who work for a living get bent out of shape when liberals want to take more of the money they earn, I hope that explained it.

Libruls' - like them damn coal miners that unionized and got shot for it! lazy'uns like that

Bowcephalus
06-30-2009, 03:50 PM
I thought you liberals were fronting a move agin' coal.......

Bowcephalus
06-30-2009, 03:51 PM
Aint them miners heating the planet up too much?

Papabull
06-30-2009, 04:28 PM
Libruls' - like them damn coal miners that unionized and got shot for it! lazy'uns like that

I've known quite a few people who worked in the coal mines having grown up in the heart of coal mining country and none of them that I knew were liberals. For some reason, I can't see you rubbing shoulders with that sort of low class redneck working man, so I'm not surprised you have some funny notions about how "those people" live.

Seems to me the harder people work for a living the less liberal they are.

tuffshot
07-01-2009, 10:44 AM
Libruls' - like them damn coal miners that unionized and got shot for it! lazy'uns like that

Yea, They did not deserve anything for living underground most of their shortened lives. Provding for a family creating an econmy for a state that in some parts just got running water and indoor plumbing 3 to 5 years ago.
The union made a life for those people and you find one bad incident to base your whole argument about. Times change and it take innovation to do it.

But condemnation of those struggling for life in a time since past is lame.

Why shouldn't the government help american industry comply instead of running it out of the country where there are no restrictions and the same pollution will continue but just not in your back yard?

Where I work 2 of the boilers are coal fired as are many power plants. Our NOX emmissions (carbon credits) are cut every year. The cost of a scrubber is approx 40 million dollars. Yes put it in! But instead of the government sending money to other countries spend the money here to save our industry.

raisins
07-01-2009, 12:04 PM
I've known quite a few people who worked in the coal mines having grown up in the heart of coal mining country and none of them that I knew were liberals. For some reason, I can't see you rubbing shoulders with that sort of low class redneck working man, so I'm not surprised you have some funny notions about how "those people" live.

Seems to me the harder people work for a living the less liberal they are.

Ha! I grew up in WV as lower-middle economic class. I'm the first person in my family to go to college. I know TONS of coal miners (well less now because of mechanization, etc). Many working people are liberal, give me a break. I'm sure you don't know many liberals because they see you coming and run like $%#$.

Dartwick
07-01-2009, 02:38 PM
I've known quite a few people who worked in the coal mines having grown up in the heart of coal mining country and none of them that I knew were liberals. For some reason, I can't see you rubbing shoulders with that sort of low class redneck working man, so I'm not surprised you have some funny notions about how "those people" live.

Seems to me the harder people work for a living the less liberal they are.

Im curious if you consider me liberal?