Capitol Hotline (Sept. 15)
Climate bill will drop this month, Interior Dept climate response initiatives, Lincoln will head Ag Committee, Clean Energy Works campaign, China building world's largest solar farm
In this issue
- Hot Topic of the Week
o Climate Bill Will Drop This Month, Says Boxer
- Inside the Beltway
o Interior Dept Announces Regional Climate Response Initiatives
o Lincoln to Lead Ag Committee
- Outside the Beltway
o Clean Energy Works Campaign Launches
o China Taps First Solar for World's Largest Solar Farm
- Other Headlines
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Hot Topic of the Week
Climate Bill Will Drop This Month, Says Boxer
Early last week, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) indicated that the Environmental and Public Works Committee, which she heads, would introduce energy reform legislation by the end of this month. Progress on the issue has been delayed by the preference given to health care reform, the death of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), and Senator John Kerry’s (D-MA) recent hip surgery. Senator Kerry has stated that delays are also due to the need to conclude consultations with CBO and EPA, which are modeling the cost and environmental impacts of the legislation. Read more at The New York Times
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Inside the Beltway
Lincoln to Lead Ag Committee
The death of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) has caused a shift in the leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Current chair, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), will replace Kennedy on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, leaving Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) to replace Harkin on Agriculture. Lincoln has shown less enthusiasm than Harkin with respect to climate change legislation. She has stated a preference for not moving a climate change bill this year. In response to the House climate legislation, Lincoln has called Waxman-Markey a flawed bill and stated her intention not to support similar legislation in the Senate. Read more at Wonk Room
Interior Dept Announces Regional Climate Response Initiatives
On Monday, the Department of the Interior launched a climate change response strategy. The new framework includes the establishment of eight regional Climate Change Response Centers and a network of federal, state and local agencies focused on landscape-level issues such as wildlife migration and wildfire, and draught. Read more at The Washington Post
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Outside the Beltway
Clean Energy Works Campaign Launches
A coalition of environmental, labor, veterans and religious groups launched the Clean Energy Works campaign last week, supporting the passage of strong climate legislation through Congress. Initial initiatives include television ads featuring everyday people talking about the importance of low-cost electricity and highlighting the national security benefits of climate legislation by bringing veterans to the Capitol. Read more at The New York Times
China Taps First Solar for World’s Largest Solar Farm
Last week, Chinese officials and American solar company First Solar Inc. signed a deal to build a 2,000-megawatt solar farm in the Mongolian desert. The photovoltaic farm will be part of a planned 11,950-megawatt renewable energy park called the Ordos New Energy Industrial Demonstration Zone. If completed, the Chinese plant will surpass a 550-megawatt solar farm as the largest single photovoltaic power plant. First Solar has also indicated the likelihood of placing a solar panel factory in China. Read more at The New York Times
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Other Headlines
- Bill May Be on Ice By Copenhagen
