GOP Sees Opening For Softened Utility Air Bill After Climate Effort Stalls

摘要

Key Republican senators are seizing on what they see as an opportunity to put fresh momentum behind a bipartisan bill to cut utilities' emissions of multiple pollutants while softening provisions on mercury pollution cuts, arguing that the bill's prospects for passage could get a boost from a legislative lull caused by stalled climate negotiations.rnRepublicans may seek to provide industry more flexibility in meeting the bill's mercury reduction mandates, among other options. However, sources familiar with the legislation say that while Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), a co-sponsor of the bill and chair of the environment committee's clean air panel, wants to move it forward with bipartisan support, he is only interested in clarifying, not softening, the bill's language on toxic mercury emissions.