July 2010 Archives

How should Congress proceed now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has shelved comprehensive climate and energy legislation?

Reid said last week he will not take up legislation that prices carbon emissions or includes robust energy measures like a renewable electricity standard before the summer recess. The bill he intends to bring to the floor before Congress adjourns Aug. 6 will include provisions that address the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, boost home energy efficiency and incentivize the use of natural gas as a fuel.

Should senators continue hashing out details on proposals that cap power plants' carbon emissions with the hope that Reid will make time in the fall? Should the chamber instead work toward passing an energy-only bill that includes a RES and provisions incentivizing nuclear power and "clean coal" technology? How does this affect the upcoming EPA regulations over greenhouse gas emissions?

9 responses: Eileen Claussen, Margo Thorning, Amy Harder, Jon A. Anda, William O'Keefe, Bill Snape, Denise Bode, Charles Drevna, Bob Bendick

Should the Senate work toward legislation that prices carbon emissions in a limited way, or should it seek to pass an energy-only bill instead?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has carved out a small window of opportunity for his chamber to introduce, debate and vote on an energy and climate package before the August recess. He intends to introduce his bill this week and bring it to the floor next week. That package, he has said, will include an oil spill title, a carbon pricing system that targets power plants, and numerous energy provisions.

What clean energy and climate provisions do you think Reid should include in his package? Should the legislation override EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants? Do lawmakers, utilities and environmental groups have enough time to coalesce around anything before Congress adjourns?

15 responses: Richard Revesz, Jim Kerr, Bill Dickenson, Bill Meadows, Bill Johnson, Kateri Callahan, Maggie L. Fox, Jon A. Anda, Mindy Lubber, Jon A. Anda, Jennifer Morgan, Daniel J. Weiss, William O'Keefe, Paul Sullivan, Peter Lehner

Editor's Note: This week Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is providing the question.

Should Congress push forward on offshore oil and natural gas exploration in light of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill? And should we be concerned that a moratorium on offshore drilling may make us even more dependent on foreign oil?

18 responses: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Paul Sullivan, Thomas J. Pyle, Frank M. Stewart, Amy Harder, Brian Wynne, Peter Lehner, Jack Gerard, Jonathan Wootliff, Carl Pope, Rodger Schlickeisen, Victor Gilinsky, Jan Mueller, Bernard L. Weinstein, Mark A. Cohen, David Holt, William O'Keefe, Bill Snape

How does a federal ruling finding that the Obama administration does not have the legal authority to abandon Nevada's Yucca Mountain waste site affect U.S. nuclear energy policy?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's board ruled last week that the administration does not have the legal right to withdraw its license for the proposed nuclear waste repository site. President Obama has already yanked funding for the site, and many aspects of the project are being ramped down. The Energy Department plans to appeal the commission's ruling.

What should the federal government do to safely dispose of nuclear waste? Should a nuclear waste plan be included in any climate and energy bill? How does this decision by NRC affect the administration's ability to approve nuclear loans?

8 responses: David Holt, Chuck Gray, Erich Pica, Amy Harder, Christine Parthemore, Victor Gilinsky, Marvin Fertel, William O'Keefe