| Sourced From Examiner.com |
Biggest compromise carbon plan delayed until 2012. In the biggest set back fro the carbon cap and trade bill passed on the floor of the House Friday is the delay of implementation until 2012. EPA could have a program up and running in the next 18 months by mid-2010. Of course, Obama and the House know 2010 is the mid-term Congressional elections and don’t want to lose votes over increased cost to households, business and the economy right before a key test of public sentiment toward Obama’s and the Democratic Congress’ policies in the first two years of Obama’s reign. In addition, the CERCLA or Superfund program which expired early in the Clinton White House won’t even come up for re-authorization until late 2010 or 2011.
Obama is no friend of the environment, as neither was Bill Clinton or Al Gore. These are crafty politicians who put lobbyists and compromise over the environment and principal. Waxman/Markey climate change compromises with moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans in key manufacturing, coal and oil states effectively blunt any real impact from carbon cap and trade until 2035-2040. Reduction limits were lowered, dubious paper offsets for things like non-quantifiable prevention of deforestation and allowing offsets for re-forestation are key weaknesses of the bill.
The Senate should vote it down as too weak. In addition, it looks like health care reform is already dead in the water.
Related posts:
- Mont. carbon storage bill revived by compromise
- German automakers denounce EU compromise on CO2 emissions
- Research and Markets: The Biggest Risk Today To the Carbon Market Is Caused By the Lack of Regulatory Continuity and Uniformity Beyond 2012
- U.S. budget to have CO2 revenues by 2012-W.House
- Note to Obama: Promote Carbon Cap and Trade Efforts at the Summit of the Americas
