Capitol Hotline (Aug. 10)

In this issue

• Hot Topic of the Week

o    Waxman-Markey Bill Keeps Costs Low, Govt Reports

• Action Alert
• Inside the Beltway

o    Feed-in Tariff Bill on Tap for Fall

o    ACCCE Affiliated with More Forged Letters

o    Cash for Clunkers Gets a Boost

• Outside the Beltway

o    South Korea Unveils CO2 Target Plan

o    India Boosts Solar Energy, Efficiency

o    California Sets Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change

• Capitol Hill Events
• Other Headlines

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Hot Topic of the Week

Waxman-Markey Bill Keeps Costs Low, Govt Reports

Carbon offsets in the American Clean Energy and Security Act will substantially lower costs in a carbon market designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, found a new Congressional Budget Office report. The CBO estimated a permit to release a metric ton of carbon dioxide in 2030 will cost $40 in a plan that allows offsets, versus $138 per metric ton in a plan that did not allow offsets. However, the CBO said that verifying some offsets would be difficult, especially in developing countries.  Read more at Reuters

An Energy Information Administration analysis of the House bill found that it would bring only modest increases in consumer energy bills. Electric and heating bills will rise by an average of $134 by 2020, far less than the $3,100 figure some opponents of the bill have calculated. Read more at Reuters

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Action Alert

In advance of the expected release of a draft Senate bill by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on September 8, organizations are using every possible avenue during the August congressional research to meet with Senators. For example: 1Sky is holding beach parties and the C. campaign and a number of other organizations are using congressional town halls and in district meetings to bring climate to the attention of Senators. See the list of town halls sent regularly to USCAN-Talk by Heather Brutz.

Also, plans are in the works for Climate Week, which begins September 20, and which will see a host of events in New York City, Pittsburgh, and around the country. As always, for more information or if you have questions, contact jkurz@climatenetwork.org.

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Inside the Beltway

ACCCE Affiliated with More Forged Letters

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a trade group representing coal producers and power companies, hired a lobbying group used Bonner & Associates to oppose the Waxman-Markey bill. ACCCE has revealed six more forged letters that were sent to the offices of Reps. Chris Carney (D-Pa.) and Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.).In addition to Creciendo Junto and the NAACP, Bonner & Assoc. forged letters from American Association of University Women and the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging. Read more at The Washington Post

Feed-in Tariff Bill on Tap for Fall

The recent trend toward feed-in tariff legislation at the local level for small-scale renewable energy producers may soon get a nationwide boost. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Bill Delahunt (D-MA) will present legislation after the recess that would require utilities to buy renewable energy electricity from developers at above the a cost of production. The congressmen hope to use the feed-in tariff as an alternative mechanism to the renewable energy standard in that it would provide dependable financing for all types of renewable energy and hopefully spark new industry. Read more at New York Times

Cash for Clunkers Gets a Boost

President Obama approved another $2 billion for the Cash for Clunkers program Friday, replenishing the fund by doubling the initial investment that had run out in only a week. The House and Senate approved the allocation earlier last week hoping to continue the reinvigoration of the auto-industry which saw over 220,000 sales, most of which small cars, averaging 27-33 mpg, from the incentive. Read more at AP

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Outside the Beltway

South Korea Unveils CO2 Target Plan

For the first time South Korea announced it would commit to emissions targets, presenting three plans from which it will choose later this year. The most aggressive option would reduce emissions by 4 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. While modest compared to even Japan and the U.S., the reductions would head off an estimated 30 percent rise in emissions if no action was taken. Read more at Reuters

India Boosts Solar Energy, Efficiency
The Clinton Foundation has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian state of Gujarat to construct a 5,000 megawatt solar park on 1,500 hectares of land near the Pakistan border. Meanwhile, beginning in January the Indian government will require energy efficiency labeling for all electric appliances. Officials estimate the efficiency plan will save 10,000 megawatts of electricity by 2012. Read more at Reuters

California Sets Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change

The California National Resources Agency released in a comprehensive plan to adapt to climate change last week. The report offers strategies for the state to cope with the effects of climate change such as sea-level rise, heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Read more at AP

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Capitol Hill Events

• Aug 4: Hearing on cap-and-trade allocations (Senate Finance)
• Aug 5: Markup of climate science, algal bloom bills (Senate Commerce)
• Aug 6: Hearing on cap-and-trade legislation (Senate EPW)

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Other Headlines

• Climate Change Seen as Threat to U.S. Security
• Warming Relations: U.S. and China Making Progress on Climate Change
• California Climate Action Plan to be Released Monday
• Is Shale Gas the Climate Bill's New Bargaining Chip?
• Scientists Study ‘Garbage Patch’ in Pacific Ocean
• Pacific states seek urgent climate change action
• South Africa Climate Meeting: Rich must pay
• Navy Task Force To Study Climate Change
• China Aims to Cut Energy Intensity 5 Percent in 2009