Climate Bill May 'grandfather' State Plans To Address Preemption

摘要

Lawmakers leading efforts to craft a climate change bill may "grandfather" in existing state climate control programs so they can continue under any federal climate regime, in an effort to resolve the issue of whether a federal climate law should preempt states on global warming rules, says Gov. Christine Gregoire (D-WA). Many industry officials insist that any federal climate plan must preempt state programs to avoid a patchwork of requirements. But states pursuing efforts to curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through cap-and-trade programs oppose broad federal preemption because, they say, it would take away their authority to set more stringent rules and collect revenues from the trading plans. Grandfathering those programs into a climate bill may address those concerns and is under consideration by key lawmakers, Gregoire said at a Feb. 23 event launching a new Georgetown Law state-federal climate center.