What’s happening in Congress with climate bills?
As dozens of Global Warming bills move through committee and go to the floor, if very little gets put into law you can blame Sen. James “Global Warming is a hoax” Inhofe (R-Okla.) for his threat to filibuster anything with teeth (60 votes need to stop that); or President Bush (67 Senate votes to override a veto); or the congressmen and senators from the coal states, who fear the demise of their states’ lifeblood; or the “oil patch” congressmen and lobbyists; or the Senators and reps from Michigan and auto industry; or even congressmen from low-wind states, who don’t see wind power as an option. There are some formidable obstacles for those in Congress who want to do right by the planet. But there is hope. During the past week, dozens of harmful amendments have been rejected, including one to have new federal fuel-economy standards pre-empt more aggressive ones in the states, and another adding coal-to-liquid (twice as bad as oil for Global Warming) as an “alternative fuel.” The biggest question now is can the Senate get the votes to sustain its fairly ambitious energy package. (The all-important matter of mandated GHG cuts was put off.)

The status of bills now being debated includes:

* Auto efficiency – The current language calls for 35 mpg corporate average fuel economy for both cars and light trucks by 2020, exempting only “work trucks” over 8,500 lbs. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) unveiled an industry-friendly alternative at the end of last week, which asks for CAFE standards of 36 mpg for passenger cars by 2022 but only 30 mpg for light trucks and SUVs by 2025. It also shifts oversight from the EPA to the National Highway Safety Administration. And it mandates new research dollars for hybrid, plug-in, diesel, biolfuel and hydrogen technologies, with incentives for the auto industry to develop these technologies. Some senators say they have enough votes to pass the original bill.

* Renewable energy – Energy Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) aims to require utilities to get 15% of their power from renewable sources by 2020. He wants a Renewable Portfolio Standard in which this power comes from carbon-free sources like wind, solar or geothermal, with penalties for utilities not meeting the standard. The ranking Republican on that committee, Pete Domenici, also from New Mexico, had a different plan: adding nuclear, hydro dams, fuel cell and low-emission coal plants to the mix. Domenici’s amendment didn’t pass, but he said he was ready filibuster Bingaman’s version and it appeared Bingaman didn't have the votes to overcome that. So now Bingaman has signed on to a compromise amendment for $10 billion in loans for capture-and-sequestration equipment for coal-to-liquid projects, so long as 75% of the CO2 is captured, which may get him the votes he needs.

* Tax credits – Bingaman will try to extend energy tax credits for wind power more than two years, to ensure continued growth of the industry. A tax package by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) extends credits for wind, solar and other renewable sources until 2010, with additional incentives for biofuels, energy efficiency and “clean coal,” to be paid for by the repeal of oil industry incentives. But those who provide wind power say the on-again, off-again subsidies are hurting the wind industry in this country.

Other bills up for consideration in the Senate would:
• Expand biofuels to 36 billion gallons by 2022, with 21 billion of those gallons coming from advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol.
• Increase efficiency for appliances and federal buildings.
• Encourage demonstration projects for carbon capture and sequestration.
• Create a registry for industries’ release of greenhouse gases (a first step toward any cap-and-trade system).

In the House, it's tough going, with powerful auto state Energy Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) sticking to his guns and apparently reaching a deal with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to put off the most controversial bills, including CAFE and coal-to-liquids, until fall. That means a much more limited package in the House this summer.

We should know a lot more as this week progresses. Stay tuned.

(Sources: Greenwire, PlanetArk.com, E&E Daily, E&E News PM)

How you can help: Call the Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121, and asking to be connected to your senators’ offices. Tell them you support Bingaman’s energy package as a first step and want the strongest bills possible to fight Global Warming. Votes are likely to be taken early this week so do it right away.

News briefs

1. World’s CO2 emissions growing faster than expected
The growth in carbon dioxide emissions is speeding up. The rate of increase the last few years was 3% year, compare with 1% in the ‘90s, according to two recent reports. That puts it at the high end of predictions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, faster than IPCC’s worst-case scenario. Even the trend toward reducing “intensity,” the amount of energy used per unit of gross domestic product, seems to be growing, said one study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. The U.S. government boasts a drop in intensity here of 1.5%, but study co-author Gregg Marland says that is partly because much of the high-carbon manufacturing has been moved overseas, often to China, which then sells the products back to the U.S. The developing countries, with 80% of the world’s population, account for 73% of the recent growth, though the richest countries still contributed 60% of GHG in 2004 and 71% of what has gone into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. Marland said the bottom line is that the world is consuming more. (Source: PlanetArk.com)

2. Demand from China leads to illegal logging, loss of forests
Tropical forests, which store CO2, are being lost at the rate of 32 million acres a year. And China’s insatiable demand for wood is driving much of the destruction. China is now the top exporter of furniture, flooring and plywood. And most of the raw product is coming from places like Africa, the Amazon and Indonesia. Much of the logging is illegal, as governments have trouble controlling what goes on in remote areas. In Indonesia, three-quarters of the logging is illegal, and the U.N. says 98% of the forest that remains could be gone by 2022, hurting people and endangered animals like tigers and rhinos. There’s a growing effort to identify where wood is coming from, to determine if it’s illegal. But perhaps the best solution is to pay poor nations for keeping forests alive, thus counteracting the money that can earned by cutting them down. (Source: Reuters)

3. Antarctic Live Earth concert July 7 will be pretty cool
It is perhaps fitting that scientists will be the ones to perform the Live Earth concert in Antarctica July 7. That’s because no one else can get in or out during their frigid “winter.” The rock-folk band Nanatuk has never performed for anyone but the musicians’ 17 colleagues. But this time they’ll be broadcast over the Internet on MSNBC.com. Al Gore personally asked them to play so there could be concerts on all 7 continents. Scientists, of course, are the ones who keep warning us about Global Warming and do all the research to back it up. They are the real heroes of this effort. (Source: E&E News PM)

4. Costa Rica expects to be the first carbon-neutral country
The Central America country of Costa Rica aims to have zero carbon emissions by 2030. Plans call for cleaning up fossil fuel plants, using hybrid vehicles and planting trees. They have good head start, getting 78% of their energy from hydropower and 18% from wind and thermal sources. Costa Ricans emit only 1.5 metric tons of carbon per person now. Norway, a short time ago, announced its plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050, through a combination of tough restrictions and carbon credits. Norwegians emit 10 tons per person. (Source: Greenwire)

5. Amish find solar energy fits their lifestyle perfectly
Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania Dutch country are turning to solar power to meet their electricity needs. Of course, those needs are scant compared with the average American's. These groups shun modern conveniences like cars and TVs. But they can use the solar energy to recharge batteries for headlights on their horse-drawn buggies, as well as sewing machines, medical devices and the like. Solar plays right into their desire to stay independent of the outside world. Homeowners need buy only one or two 130-watt solar panels to serve their needs. Amish and Mennonites also believe in sustainable farming. (Source: Greenwire)

Do something

Next time you rent a car, ask for a hybrid. Enterprise already has 3,000 on the road, according to Greenwire. And both Avis and Hertz are starting to provide the Toyoto Prius in some markets. Hertz is buying 3,400 Priuses, and Avis says it will have 1,000 available starting this week in California, Seattle, Portland and Washington, D.C. Expansion is expected as demand requires. So help create the demand. It will also give you a chance to test drive a Prius. You might end up buying one if you don’t have one already.

If you live in Illinois, support Clean Cars legislation to adopt the strict standards passed by California and 11 or 12 other states. If Illinois is successful, the state may be big enough to tip the balance so that automakers will seriously consider making most or all of their cars and light trucks to meet these standards. Go to www.actionnetwork.org/campaign/pleasebringcleancars and sign the petition.