For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RL32955 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Order Code RL32955 Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress Updated January 3, 2007 Brent D. Yacobucci Specialist in Energy Policy Resources, Science, and Industry Division Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress Summary Climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were issues in the 109th Congress, as they had been in past Congresses. Bills directly addressing climate change issues ranged from those focused primarily on climate change research to comprehensive emissions cap-and-trade programs for the six greenhouse gases covered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Additional bills focused on GHG reporting and registries, or on power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, as part of wider controls on pollutant emissions. Within several broad categories, the bills varied in their approaches to climate change issues. For example, some bills covering research issues focused solely on modeling the effects of future climate change, whereas others addressed the development of monitoring technologies. Bills focusing on technology deployment did so through tax incentives and credit-based programs within the United States or by promoting deployment in developing countries. Bills with greenhouse gas registries were either voluntary or mandatory and varied in the entities covered and the gases registered. Bills with emission reduction requirements also varied in the entities covered, the gases limited, and the target emissions levels. Most notably, on August 8, 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58, H.R. 6). Among other provisions, Title XVI of the bill established programs to promote the development and deployment of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity. This report briefly discusses the basic concepts on which these bills were based and compares major provisions of the bills in each of the following categories: climate change research, technology deployment, GHG reporting and registries, and emissions reduction programs. Contents Energy Bill Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Climate Change Research Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Deployment of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 GHG Reporting and Registry Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 GHG Emission-Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Carbon Dioxide Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Comprehensive GHG Emissions Reductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Safety Valve Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Comparison of Emissions Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 List of Tables Table 1. Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Emission Caps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Appendix 1. Climate Change Bills in the 109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Appendix 2. Key Provisions of Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress Climate change is viewed as a global issue, but proposed responses generally require action at the national level. In 1992, the United States ratified the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which called on industrialized countries to take the lead in making voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.1 Over the past 15 years, a variety of voluntary and regulatory actions have been proposed or undertaken in the United States, including monitoring of utility carbon dioxide emissions, improved appliance efficiency, and incentives for developing renewable energy sources. In 2001, President George W. Bush rejected the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, which called for legally binding commitments by developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, the Bush Administration has focused on reducing the greenhouse gas intensity2 of the U.S. economy. In the meantime, some states and local governments, as well as private entities, have taken actions to reduce emissions and limit the potential impacts of climate change. In light of these actions, a number of bills were introduced in Congress to address climate change. In the 109th Congress, numerous bills were introduced that directly or indirectly address climate change. Several bills addressed the climate change issue directly, either through emissions limits, incentives for reductions, or research and information gathering on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. This report describes and compares bills that directly addressed climate change, as opposed to those that addressed other issues but could have had ancillary impacts (e.g., energy efficiency and conservation). Topics covered by these bills fall into four major categories: (1) those that would have promoted research on the effects of climate change and on methods to measure and predict climate change; (2) those that would have created incentives for the deployment of emission-reducing technologies in the United States or other countries; (3) those that would have established greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring systems as a basis for research or for any potential reduction program; and (4) those that would have established market-based programs to directly limit greenhouse gas emissions. These categories are not mutually exclusive, and several bills addressed more than one of the above categories. The major provisions of these bills are categorized in Appendix 1 and summarized in Appendix 2. 1 Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2, the most ubiquitous and primary greenhouse gas), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluorane (SF6). Some other greenhouse gases are controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. 2 Greenhouse gas intensity is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emitted per unit of gross domestic product. CRS-2 In several cases, bill sponsors introduced modified versions of their climate change bills. For the purposes of the discussion below, it is assumed that the newest version supersedes earlier versions. These bills include S. 1151 for S. 342 (McCain); S. 883 for S. 386 (Hagel); S. 887 for S. 388 (Hagel); and S. 1203 for S. 387 (Hagel). Energy Bill Amendments On August 8, 2005, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58). Title XVI established a voluntary national program designed to accelerate demonstration and deployment of less-carbon-intensive technology to encourage voluntary reductions in greenhouse gases. The title attempts to support actions focused on reducing U.S. carbon intensity (the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product). The program would not establish a requirement to reduce emissions. This title also establishes a program to encourage exports of carbon intensity-reducing technologies to developing countries. As part of the Senate debate over the Energy Policy Act of 2005, several amendments on climate change were offered. S.Amdt. 817, which inserted a new Title XVI in the bill, incorporated language from S. 883 and S. 887. This amendment was agreed to on a 66-29 vote. These provisions are similar to those included in the final version of the bill. The House version of the bill did not expressly address climate change issues. Not included in the final law was Section 1612 of the Senate bill (S.Amdt. 866), which expressed the Sense of the Senate that human activities are a substantial cause of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere, causing average temperatures to rise. Further, the resolution stated that "Congress should enact a comprehensive and effective national program of mandatory market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases that slow, stop, and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that -- (1) will not significantly harm the United States economy; and (2) will encourage comparable action by other nations that are major trading partners and key contributors to global emissions." This was the first Sense of the Senate resolution on climate change since S.Res. 98 in 1997, which voiced concern over the economic effects of emissions limits and the sense that developing countries must participate in meaningful action to control emissions. Similar to S.Amdt. 866, S.J.Res. 5 also urged U.S. action on climate change, but this resolution saw no action after being referred to committee. The Senate also debated whether to adopt S.Amdt. 826, which contained language similar to S. 1151. This amendment would have established a mandatory cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions from covered entities to year 2000 levels by 2010. This amendment was rejected on a 38-60 vote. Climate Change Research Bills Global climate change is a complex issue. While most scientists agree that the climate is changing in response to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, uncertainties concerning the causes and the effects of climate change remain and are a continuing CRS-3 subject of extensive scientific research.3 Further, research is ongoing into technologies to improve efficiency, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and sequester carbon dioxide emissions. Research Bills. One bill in the 109th Congress, S. 245 (Collins), focused solely on climate change research.4 It called for the development and testing of climate change models based on historic climatic changes, and to incorporate nonlinear aspects of geophysical systems that could lead to abrupt changes in climate. Research Provisions in Broader Bills. Several bills included climate change research provisions as part of a broader climate change legislation. Specifically, research in S. 1151, S. 3698, S. 4039, H.R. 759, and H.R. 2828 would have focused on abrupt climate change research and new climate change measurement technologies. H.R. 5049 would have established a new Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Energy. Deployment of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology In the 109th Congress, several bills would have promoted the deployment and diffusion of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, either as part of broader legislation to limit greenhouse gases, or as stand-alone legislation. Deployment strategies included tax incentives for investment in technologies to improve efficiency and/or lower emissions and grants, loans, and other incentives for technology transfer to developing countries. S. 1203 (Hagel) and H.R. 6417 (Meehan) would have established tax incentives for investment in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity. S. 745 (Byrd), S. 883 (Hagel), S. 1151 (McCain), and S. 3698 (Jeffords) would have established grant and loan programs to deploy technologies in developing countries that have been developed or demonstrated in the United States. S. 887 (Hagel) would establish a credit-based deployment program for technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity; support would include direct loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, and production incentive payments. The final version of H.R. 6 incorporates language similar to S. 883 and S. 887. H.R. 2828 (Inslee) provides a wide array of incentives for improvements in energy efficiency and other strategies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. S. 4039 (Kerry) includes several provisions to either mandate or establish incentives for various low- emission technologies. In addition to the above bills on technology deployment, §585(b) of the FY2006 Foreign Operations Appropriation Act (P.L. 109-102) required the President to submit a report on federal agency expenditures (foreign and domestic) on climate change activities. The act specifically required a report on U.S. Agency for International Development funding for climate change activities in developing 3 For more information on the science and policy of Global Climate Change, see CRS Report RL33602, Global Climate Change: Major Scientific and Policy Issues, by John R. Justus and Susan R. Fletcher. 4 This report does not include bills with other focuses that also had research components related to climate change (particularly sequestration, renewable energy, and energy efficiency). CRS-4 countries, including technology deployment. In April 2006, the White House submitted to Congress a report titled Federal Climate Change Expenditures Report to Congress.5 GHG Reporting and Registry Bills Under the UNFCCC, the United States annually publishes reports on its GHG emissions.6 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does this reporting using various techniques (e.g., fuel analysis for CO2). The three dominant sources of GHG emissions are electricity generation (33.1%), transportation (26.9%), and industry (19%).7 At the national level, most electric utilities must report their GHG emissions pursuant to the 1990 Clean Air Act, but there is no overall national GHG reporting requirement. However, some states also gather data through voluntary or mandatory GHG emissions reporting mechanisms.8 H.R. 955 (Olver) focused primarily on expanding emissions reporting to include a broad array of sources. All entities that emit more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent would have been required to report their emissions, except that farms were exempt. Further, manufacturers and importers of automobiles and Department of Energy-listed products9 would have been required to report the emissions from their products. The purpose of the bill was to promote greenhouse gas reductions and to generate accurate emissions data that can be used by public and private entities for various purposes. In addition to H.R. 955, which focused solely on GHG reporting, several other bills would have required emissions monitoring and reporting as part of a program to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide or of all greenhouse gases. These emissions reductions efforts are discussed in the following section. S. 150 (Jeffords), S. 730 (Leahy), H.R. 1451 (Waxman), and H.R. 1873 (Bass) would have required electricity producers to report their carbon dioxide emissions in order to determine compliance with carbon dioxide caps. S. 1151 (McCain), H.R. 759 (Gilchrest), and H.R. 2828 (Inslee) would have required major emitters of all six greenhouse gases to report their emissions; the bills required reporting from entities that emit more than 10,000 metric tons (11,000 tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent. H.R. 5049 (Udall, T.) would have required all fossil fuel suppliers to report the amount of greenhouse gases that will result from combustion of the fuel supplied. S. 4039 (Kerry) would have 5 Available at [http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/fy07_climate_change.pdf] 6 For more information, see CRS Report 98-235, Global Climate Change: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- Status, Trends, and Projections, by John Blodgett and Larry Parker. 7 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. GHG Emissions and Sinks 1990-2001, p. ES-6. Additional sources are agriculture (7.6%), commerce (7.2%), and residential activities (5.4%). 8 For more information, see Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Climate Change Activities in the United States: 2004 Update, Arlington, VA, 2004. 9 Defined as any product for which the Department of Energy has promulgated final regulations for energy efficiency, energy conservation, maximum energy use, or energy consumption. CRS-5 required reporting from all major sources as defined by Section 169A of the Clean Air Act. GHG Emission-Reduction Bills The United States has no federal GHG reduction requirements, though there have been proposals to require such reductions. These proposals include "command and control" regulations on emissions, GHG emission taxes, and market-based techniques to limit emissions. The latter, market-based programs typically take as their model the Clean Air Act's acid rain program.10 In the 109th Congress, bills were introduced that would have established market- based caps on GHG emissions. These bills are compared in Table 1. Three bills, S. 1151 (McCain), H.R. 759 (Gilchrest), and H.R. 2828 (Inslee), would have capped the emissions of the six greenhouse gases specified in the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change. Five other bills, S. 150 (Jeffords), S. 730 (Leahy), S. 2724 (Carper), H.R. 1451 (Waxman), and H.R. 1873 (Bass), would have focused on reducing carbon dioxide from electric utilities. Each of these bills would have used market-based trading mechanisms to limit GHG emissions. Cap-and-trade programs set strict limits on specific emissions from a particular group of sources, allowing individual sources to trade reductions. This flexibility in who makes reductions can lead to lower costs. In an efficient market, entities that face relatively low emission-reduction costs could achieve extra emission reductions. These entities could then sell their unused allowances to entities that face higher emission-reduction costs. An entity facing higher costs could purchase allowances that would allow it to emit more than its initial emissions allotment would otherwise permit. It should be noted that in all cases, total U.S. emissions may decrease or increase depending on the entities covered, the greenhouse gases controlled, and the emissions trading schemes. Another market-based option is to require tradeable emissions permits, but establish a "safety valve" price. In this scenario, if the market value of a permit exceeds a set price -- the safety valve -- covered entities can purchase an unlimited number of permits from the government. In this way, the overall price to covered entities -- and the economy -- is limited, but specific emission reduction targets may not be reached. H.R. 5049 (Udall, T.) would have established a such a system. Carbon Dioxide Reduction Bills. As shown in Table 1, S. 150, S. 730, H.R. 1451, and H.R. 1873 focused on electric utility emissions. These "multi- pollutant" bills would have limited emissions of carbon dioxide, along with other air 10 The acid rain program caps emissions from each source, but allows sources to exceed their caps if they purchase credits from sources that achieve emissions reductions beyond those required. CRS-6 pollutants.11 (See Table 1.) In all four cases, carbon dioxide emissions limitations would have started in 2010.12 Comprehensive GHG Emissions Reductions. Unlike other bills proposed in the 109th Congress, the Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 (H.R. 759), the New Apollo Energy Act of 2005 (H.R. 2828), and the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 (S. 1151) focused on achieving market-driven reductions in all six greenhouse gases (see Table 1). The legislation applied to entities in the electricity, transportation, industry, and commercial sectors that emit over 10,000 metric tons (11,000 tons) of greenhouse gases per year. Starting in 2010, the bills would have capped total GHG emissions from all these sources at 6.5 billion tons (CO2 equivalent emissions), reduced by the amount of CO2 (equivalent emissions) from non-covered entities in the year 2000. The bills would also have established a formula for allocating GHG emissions allowances, and a climate change credit corporation to manage allowance trading. Language similar to S. 1151 was offered as an amendment on the Senate floor to H.R. 6. This amendment was rejected on a 38-60 vote. In addition to establishing caps on all six greenhouse gases, the above bills would have supported climate change research and established a GHG emissions inventory (see above). The bills also included a requirement that the Administrator of the EPA establish a national GHG database, and develop methods and standards to measure and verify GHG emissions. The Safe Climate Act of 2006 (H.R. 5642), the Global Warming Pollution Act (S. 3698), and the Global Warming Reduction Act of 2006 (S. 4039) would have granted EPA broad authority to establish regulations such that total greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to 80% (65% in the case of H.R. 4039) below 1990 levels by 2050. These bills did not designate covered entities or required reduction levels for specific sectors, but would have left those decisions to EPA's discretion. Safety Valve Bills. The Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006 (H.R. 5049) would have established a system of allowances for fossil fuel suppliers and a safety valve of $25 per ton of carbon, indexed to inflation. 11 S. 131 (Inhofe) and H.R. 227 (Sweeny) would also establish a cap-and-trade program for nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury from utilities. However, the bills do not address carbon dioxide emissions. 12 For more information on multi-pollutant bills, see CRS Report RL32755, Air Quality: Multi-Pollutant Legislation in the 109th Congress, by Larry Parker and John Blodgett. CRS-7 Comparison of Emissions Reduction Bills Table 1. Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Emission Caps S. 1151 (McCain), H.R. 759 H.R. 1451 H.R. 1873 S. 2724 S. 150 (Jeffords) S. 730 (Leahy) (Gilchrest), H.R. 2828 (Inslee) (Waxman) (Bass) (Carper) Covered sources Any fossil fuel-fired Any electric power, industrial, All electricity Any fossil fuel- Any fossil Any fossil fuel- electric generating or commercial entity that emits generating fired electric fuel-fired fired electric facility that has a over 10,000 metric tons of CO2 facilities in the generating electric generating capacity of greater equivalent/year; any refiner or United States. facility that has a generating facility that has a than 15 megawatts, importer of petroleum products capacity of facility that has capacity of generates electricity for transportation use that when greater than 15 a capacity of greater than 25 for sale, and emits a combusted will emit over megawatts and greater than 25 megawatts and covered pollutant into 10,000 metric tons of CO2 generates megawatts and generates the air. equivalent/year; and, any electricity for generates electricity for importer or producer of HFCs, sale. electricity for sale. PFCs or SF6 that, when used, sale. will emit over 10,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent/year. Covered One GHG: carbon All six GHGs. One GHG: CO2; One GHG: CO2; One GHG: One GHG: CO2; pollutants dioxide; other other pollutants: other pollutants: CO2; other other pollutants: Pollutants: sulfur sulfur dioxide, sulfur dioxide, pollutants: sulfur dioxide, dioxide, nitrogen nitrogen oxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, oxides, and mercury. and mercury. and mercury. nitrogen and mercury. oxides, and mercury. CRS-8 S. 1151 (McCain), H.R. 759 H.R. 1451 H.R. 1873 S. 2724 S. 150 (Jeffords) S. 730 (Leahy) (Gilchrest), H.R. 2828 (Inslee) (Waxman) (Bass) (Carper) Emissions cap Utility CO2 emissions 6.5 billion tons of CO2 Utility CO2 Utility CO2 Estimated at Estimated at 2.65 limited to 2.05 billion equivalent per year beginning in emissions emission cap 2.46 billion billion tons in tons per yeara 2010 for all covered entities limited to 2.05 estimated at 1.94 tons in 2010, 2010, declining beginning in 2010. taken together. billion tons per billion tons per declining to to 2.45 billion year beginning in year beginning in 2.38 billion tons in 2015. 2010. 2010. tons in 2015. Implementation Tradeable allowance Tradeable allowance system. Absolute caps on To be Tradeable Tradeable Strategy system. Allowances EPA is directed to determine mercury determined by allowance allowance allocated to various allocations based on several emissions, no EPA -- market system for all system varies by sectors and interests, economic and equity criteria, trading permitted mechanisms pollutants; pollutant. For including households, including efficiency and impact between facilities permitted (except allocations CO2, allocations dislocated workers on consumers. Allowances are at different sites. for mercury). based on based on historic and communities, to be allocated upstream to Implementation historic electricity electricity-intensive refiners and importers of strategy for other electricity output. CO2 industries, affected transportation fuel, along with pollutants to be output. program includes utilities, energy producers of HFCs, PFCs, and determined by CO2 program allowance efficiency and SF6; downstream to electric EPA. includes allocations for renewable energy generation, industrial, and allowance incremental activities, and commercial entities. allocations for nuclear capacity sequestration incremental and renewable activities. nuclear energy, along capacity and with renewable sequestration and energy. early action provisions. CRS-9 S. 1151 (McCain), H.R. 759 H.R. 1451 H.R. 1873 S. 2724 S. 150 (Jeffords) S. 730 (Leahy) (Gilchrest), H.R. 2828 (Inslee) (Waxman) (Bass) (Carper) Percentage -7.5% -5% -7.5% -9.5% -0.8% -0.8% change in CO2 emissions v. business as usual by 2010b Percentage +24.2% +27.7% +24.2% +21.7% +32.2% +32.2% change inCO2 emissions v. 1990 levels (UNFCCC baseline year)b Penalties for Same as Clean Air Excess emission penalty equal To be To be $100 per $100 per excess noncompliance Act, title IV except to three times the market price determined by determined by excess ton plus ton plus that the excess for allowances on the last day of EPA. EPA. one-for-one one-for-one emission penalty is the year at issue. offset from offset from three times the future future emissions average market price emissions allocations. for allowances. allocations. a. S. 150 would further limit the number of emission allowances in a given year by the number of tons emitted two years prior by small electricity generating facilities, and by any number required to protect the public health, welfare, or the environment. b. CRS calculations based on projections contained in the UNFCCC Secretariat's 2002 Climate Action Report. Available at [http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/ content/ResourceCenterPublicationsUSClimateActionReport.html]. For more information, see CRS Report RL32755, Air Quality: Multi-Pollutant Legislation in the 109th Congress, by Larry Parker and John Blodgett. CRS-10 Appendix 1. Climate Change Bills in the 109th Congress Emissions Caps and Multi- Allowance Climate Change Technology GHG Reporting Pollutant Trading for Bill(s) and Short Title(s) Research Deployment and Registry Bill all GHGs ENACTED LAW H.R. 6, P.L. 109-58 X Energy Policy Act of 2005 SENATE BILLS S. 150 (Jeffords) X X The Clean Power Act of 2005 S. 245 (Collins) X Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2005 S. 730 (Leahy) X X Mercury Emission Act of 2005 S. 745 (Byrd) International Clean Energy Deployment and Global Energy Markets X Investment Act of 2005 S. 883 (Hagel) Climate Change Technology Deployment in Developing Countries Act of X 2005 CRS-11 Emissions Caps and Multi- Allowance Climate Change Technology GHG Reporting Pollutant Trading for Bill(s) and Short Title(s) Research Deployment and Registry Bill all GHGs S. 887 (Hagel) Climate Change Technology Deployment and Infrastructure Credit Act X of 2005 S. 1151 (McCain) X X X X Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 S. 1203 (Hagel) X Climate Change Technology Tax Incentives Act of 2005 S. 2724 (Carper) X X Clean Air Planning Act of 2006 S. 3698 (Jeffords) X X X X Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act S. 4039 (Kerry) X X X X Global Warming Reduction Act of 2006 S. 342* (McCain) X X X Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 S. 386* (Hagel) Climate Change Technology Deployment in Developing Countries Act of X 2005 S. 387* (Hagel) X Climate Change Technology Tax Incentives Act of 2005 CRS-12 Emissions Caps and Multi- Allowance Climate Change Technology GHG Reporting Pollutant Trading for Bill(s) and Short Title(s) Research Deployment and Registry Bill all GHGs S. 388* (Hagel) Climate Change Technology Deployment and Infrastructure Credit Act X X of 2005 * Superseded by newer version HOUSE BILLS H.R. 759 (Gilchrest) X X X Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 H.R. 955 (Olver) X National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Act of 2005 H.R. 1451 (Waxman) X X Clean Smokestacks Act of 2005 H.R. 1873 (Bass) X X Clean Air Planning Act of 2005 H.R. 2828 (Inslee) X X X X New Apollo Energy Act of 2005 H.R. 5049 (Udall, T.) X X X Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006 H.R. 5642 (Waxman) X X Safe Climate Act of 2006 CRS-13 Emissions Caps and Multi- Allowance Climate Change Technology GHG Reporting Pollutant Trading for Bill(s) and Short Title(s) Research Deployment and Registry Bill all GHGs H.R. 6417 (Meehan) X Climate Change Investment Act of 2006 CRS-14 Appendix 2. Key Provisions of Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress Bill No. Sponsor Major Actions Key Provisions ENACTED LAW H.R. 6, P.L. Barton Introduced April 18, 2005; passed House April Omnibus energy bill addressing various climate- and non-climate related topics. 109-58 21, 2005; passed Senate June 28, 2005; Among other provisions, establishes loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology for greenhouse gas intensity reduction (similar language to S. 887); conference report file July 27, 2005; agreed to in House July 28; agreed to in Senate July 29; requires the Secretary of State to provide assistance to developing countries on signed into law August 8, 2005. projects to reduce greenhouse gas intensity; establishes an export initiative for greenhouse gas reduction technology (similar language to S. 883) SENATE BILLS S. 150 Jeffords Introduced January 25, 2005; referred to Senate Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environment and Public Works. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from certain electric generation facilities by January 1, 2010. S. 245 Collins Introduced February 1, 2005; referred to Senate Would have established within the Department of Commerce a research program Commerce, Science, and Transportation. on abrupt climate change. S. 730 Leahy Introduced April 6, 2005; referred to Senate Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environment and Public Works. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from certain electric generation facilities by January 1, 2010. S. 745 Byrd Introduced April 11, 2005; referred to Senate Would have established within the Department of State a program to assist Foreign Relations. developing countries in the demonstration and deployment of emission reduction technologies. CRS-15 Bill No. Sponsor Major Actions Key Provisions S. 883 Hagel Introduced April 21, 2005; referred to Senate Would have required the Secretary of State to provide assistance to developing Foreign Relations -- see also H.R. 6 (Senate countries on projects to reduce greenhouse gas intensity; would have established Version) an export initiative for greenhouse gas reduction technology. S. 887 Hagel Introduced April 21, 2005; referred to Senate Would have established loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology for Energy and Natural Resources -- see also H.R. greenhouse gas intensity reduction. 6 (Senate Version) S. 1151 McCain Introduced May 25, 2005; referred to Senate Would have required any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of Environment and Public Works. greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) to reduce emissions to year 2000 levels by 2010. Would have allowed: tradeable credits for reductions beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities, increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in other countries. Would have promoted innovation on mitigation technologies and would have established incentives for technology deployment. S. 1203 Hagel Introduced June 8, 2005; referred to Senate Would have established tax credits for investment in technologies to reduce Finance. greenhouse gas intensity; also provides tax incentives for nuclear technologies. S. 2724 Carper Introduced May 4, 2006; referred to Senate Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environment and Public Works. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions carbon dioxide and pollutants from certain electric generation facilities by 2010 (2007 for nitrogen oxides). S. 3698 Jeffords Introduced July 20, 2006; referred to Senate Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environment and Public Works. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050; would have established efficiency and/or emissions standards for various sectors; would have promoted research and development CRS-16 Bill No. Sponsor Major Actions Key Provisions S. 4039 Kerry Introduced September 29, 2006; referred to Would have established a mandatory cap-and-trade program beginning in 2010 Senate Finance to reduce annual emissions by a set percentage each year so that annual emissions are 65% below year 2000 levels by 2050. Would have established research and development; greenhouse gas standards for passenger vehicles. S. 342* McCain Introduced February 10, 2005; referred to Would have required any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of Senate Environment and Public Works. greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) to reduce emissions to year 2000 levels by 2010. Would have allowed tradeable credits for reductions beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities, increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in other countries. S. 386* Hagel Introduced February 15, 2005; referred to Would have required the Secretary of State to provide assistance to developing Senate Foreign Relations. countries on projects to reduce greenhouse gas intensity; would have established an export initiative for greenhouse gas reduction technology. S. 387* Hagel Introduced February 15, 2005; referred to Would have established tax credits for investment in technologies to reduce Senate Finance. greenhouse gas intensity; also would have provided tax incentives for clean coal and nuclear technologies. S. 388* Hagel Introduced February 15, 2005; referred to Would have established loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology for Senate Energy and Natural Resources. greenhouse gas intensity reduction; would have established a voluntary national greenhouse gas registry. *Superseded by newer version CRS-17 Bill No. Sponsor Major Actions Key Provisions HOUSE BILLS H.R. 759 Gilchrest Introduced February 10, 2005; referred to House Would have required any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of Science, and House Energy and Commerce. greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) to reduce emissions to year 2000 levels by 2010. Would have allowed: tradeable credits for reductions beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities, increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in other countries. H.R. 955 Olver Introduced February 17, 2005; referred to House Would have required EPA to establish a GHG emissions information system to Energy and Commerce. collect information submitted regarding an entity's GHG emissions. Would have established mandatory registry for entities that emit more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. H.R. 1451 Waxman Introduced March 17, 2005; referred to House Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Energy and Commerce. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and pollutants from certain electric generation facilities by 2010. H.R. 1873 Bass Introduced April 27, 2005; referred to House Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Energy and Commerce. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions carbon dioxide and pollutants from certain electric generation facilities by 2010 (2009 for nitrogen oxides). H.R. 2828 Inslee Introduced June 8, 2005; referred to House Omnibus energy bill addressing various climate- and non-climate related topics. Energy and Commerce, among other Among other provisions, would have required any entity that emits more than committees. 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases (CO2 equivalent) to reduce emissions to year 2000 levels by 2010. Would have allowed tradeable credits for reductions beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities, increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in other countries. CRS-18 Bill No. Sponsor Major Actions Key Provisions H.R. 5049 Udall, T. Introduced May 24, 2006; referred to House Would have established a system of tradeable allowances for greenhouse gas Energy and Commerce, among other emissions from fossil fuel supply and combustion, with a maximum "safety committees. valve" price of $25 per ton of carbon, adjusted for inflation. Would have established an Advanced Research Projects Agency within the Department of Energy. H.R. 5642 Waxman Introduced June 20, 2006; referred to House Would have amended the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Energy and Commerce, among other Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to achieve an 80% committees. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050. H.R. 6417 Meehan Introduced December 7, 2006; referred to House Among other provisions, would have established a tax credit for investment in Ways and Means technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RL32955