DRAFT DINGELL PLAN DEFERS KEY DISPUTES FOR 2009 CLIMATE LEGISLATION

摘要

A new climate change "discussion draft" plan from House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and energy and air subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) appears designed to defer decisions on many hot-button controversies - such as preemption battles over state vehicle emissions standards, the deadline for implementing certain provisions to protect U.S. competitiveness, and decisions on whether to focus compliance assistance primarily on industries or consumers, according to Capitol Hill and other observers. However, the sources say the legislation and supporting materials also indicate the lawmakers' efforts to maintain jurisdictional control over the legislative debate, and to lay out opening positions on issues such as flexible, near-term emissions targets; preemption of state cap-and-trade climate programs; federal Clean Air Act preemption; and possibly allocation to utilities based on historic emissions levels. In general, the draft bill is intended to spur discussion on various options for regulating greenhouse gases, while laying out a proposed framework for a federal climate program. The draft is available on InsideEPA.com. See page 2 for details.