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Klobuchar Leaves Mark on Climate Change Legislation Passed by Environment and Public Works Committee

Klobuchar provisions lay foundation for major climate change legislation

December 5, 2007

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar played a key role in shaping major climate change legislation that passed the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee today.  Klobuchar, who serves on the EPW committee, successfully included her “carbon counter” legislation as part of the groundbreaking legislation that she is an original cosponsor of – S. 2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.  Klobuchar’s provision is the first title in the overall bill which many experts see as the foundation for any successful climate change legislation. 

Klobuchar remarked on the action today stating, “Federal leadership on this issue is long overdue and thanks to the vision of Senator Boxer, we have a strong bill that will help tackle climate change head on.  This is a historic opportunity that will spur technological innovation and open new economic opportunities with new industries and new jobs.”

The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act was authored by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-Va).  Over the past few months, Klobuchar worked closely with EPW Committee Chairman Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senators Lieberman and Warner to help shape the final version of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which passed the committee today.

Chairman Boxer commented on Klobuchar’s leadership on climate change stating, “I am so grateful to Senator Klobuchar for her hard work on the historic global warming legislation we passed through the Environment Committee today.  Senator Klobuchar wrote the very first provision in this bill – the carbon registry – and she has been a terrific advocate for strong action to prevent dangerous global warming.”

Klobuchar’s “carbon counter” provision would create a national greenhouse gas registry.  The overall Lieberman-Warner bill seeks to implement the first nationwide cap-and-trade program in the United States, and relies on Klobuchar’s initiative to produce accurate and uniform data from which to implement the cap-and-trade program.

 The EPW Committee also passed Klobuchar’s amendment that would require the National Academy of Sciences to study the feasibility of distributing “bonus allowances” to producers of clean renewable electricity and requires the EPA to make recommendations on how to implement this program. The goal is to eventually provide the same incentives to renewable producers that are currently offered to traditional energy producers like coal and gas power plants.  The amendment was 1 of 14 amendments that passed among over 150 offered amendments during today’s markup. 

Klobuchar’s amendment would help states like Minnesota who have been at the forefront of developing and investing in wind power and other renewable technologies.  Klobuchar commented on the importance of providing incentives to businesses and industries who invest in renewable energy stating, “The solution to climate change is not just about capping and trading, it is about capping and transitioning into clean, homegrown renewable energy.”

Klobuchar also pushed to include Minnesota’s bold renewable electricity standard (RES) that requires 25% of all electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2025 – “25 by 25.” Senator Klobuchar spoke about the need of investment incentives for businesses and industry to help them transition paired with aggressive renewable energy targets and other bold national policies.  Klobuchar indicated that she will continue to pursue an aggressive RES at every possible opportunity.

The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act would provide a cap-and-trade strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2050. In doing so, it establishes useful rules for investors and businesses, many of whom have been seeking clear, long-term U.S. goals to guide their decisions domestically and internationally.

The bill passed the EPW committee today by a vote of 11-8 and now awaits floor action.

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