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Republicans are still unapologetically lying about the costs of cap-and-trade versus the costs of inaction. “Democrats have released no numbers,” says GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence. Well, that is untrue (see EPA Analysis: “the median household [would be] better off than they would be without the program”). The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has released a two-year study that concludes that climate legislation like the Waxman-Markey bill will yield an annual net gain of $900 per household by 2030.

GOP still using disputed data

GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence is defending Republican use of a widely disputed cost estimate on a Democratic global warming proposal, even after an outcry from media, environmentalists, and climate change experts.

“We are using the numbers that are in the public domain right now,” said Pence (R-Ind.) in a Tuesday briefing with reporters. “Democrats have released no numbers.”

In speeches, interviews, and press releases, Republicans have repeatedly claimed that a cap and trade system would raise energy prices an average of $3,100 per household – a figure they got by doing some additional calculations off an MIT analysis.

MIT’s John Reilly, one of the authors of the study, slammed their use of his estimates earlier this month.

See “MIT Professor tells GOP to stop ‘misrepresenting’ his work and inflating the cost to families of cap-and-trade by a factor of 10.”   In fact, MIT found the costs on lower and middle income households can be “completely offset by returning allowance revenue to these households.”E&E Daily (Subs. Req’d)

Energy insiders fear EPA could fly solo on emission rules

As climate legislation slogs through mark-ups and deliberation, the EPA has started moving on GHG regulation. Advocates for carbon markets see the actions of the EPA as potentially dangerous to the climate movement. The story:

Energy experts from across the political spectrum urged Congress yesterday to head off carbon regulations from U.S. EPA by passing a federal climate bill.

Environmentalists and utility executives alike said the least favored option is EPA acting to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The agency moved toward doing so following the release Friday of a proposed “endangerment finding” that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases constitute a threat to public health.

David Crane, NRG Energy’s CEO, said a simple consensus has emerged in the wake of the finding that EPA restricting emissions on its own is “not the ideal approach.”

“It would be subject to innumerable lawsuits,” Crane said during a conference here hosted by Fortune magazine. “And it could actually hurt the early mover.”

Duke Energy Corp. CEO James Rogers echoed these remarks, as did the head of the Environmental Defense Fund, Fred Krupp.

“The fact that EPA has issued the endangerment finding should be a spur to all of us to get Congress to do it,” Krupp told a gathering of industry players, environmental advocates and journalists. “It’s better suited for Congress to work out the details than EPA.”

In Krupp’s view, EPA is ill-equipped to make the staggering political judgments required of a national, economywide climate act. Elected officials, not bureaucrats, are better prepared to complete the difficult political work associated with such a massive economic transformation, he said.

[JR:  I think this view of what EPA is going to do in terms of regulations after the endangerment finding is quite mistaken, so I suppose I will have to blog on it.  EPA it is really only poised to regulate new sources -- new cars and big new emitters like new dirty coal plants, primarily.  It is exceedingly unlikely EPA would try to do a nationwide cap and trade system (see here).]

Moderate Dems lay out concerns with draft Energy and Commerce bill

The Energy and Commerce Committee has a significant majority of Democrats, so getting climate legislation through should be easy, right? Well, no. The progressive committee members have the hefty task of convincing their more conservative colleagues (of the same party) that strong legislation is necessary for preserving a livable climate and creating a prosperous economy. And what of the Republicans? They remain the phantoms in the room, with only one thing to say: “No.” More here:

House Democrats pushing a major energy and global warming bill have work to do before winning over some fellow party members.

Several Democrats from industrial and Southern states used the first Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the draft bill yesterday to offer their most substantive take yet on issues including renewable electricity standards and emissions allowances.

The views of moderates such as former Chairman John Dingell of Michigan, Jim Matheson of Utah and Gene Green of Texas are key heading into planned markups. Democrats hold a 36-23 advantage over Republicans on the full Energy and Commerce Committee, meaning Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) can lose only six of his own members and still pass the bill absent any surprise GOP defections.

Markey yesterday said the sponsors are committed to engaging with committee members but steered clear of specifics or possible changes in the offing. “We are going to be working with all the members over the next couple of weeks to have those conversations so we can find the smartest way to move forward,” Markey said.

On the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, chaired by bill co-sponsor Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Democrats outnumber Republicans 21-13.

Global warming ad campaigns heat up

Environmental groups are storming the airwaves this week, taking out significant ad buys in key states to push climate change legislation and increased investment in renewable energy, even as the issues face a tough fight in the Senate.

GOP grapples with climate confusion

Ask 15 Republicans about climate change, and you’ll get 20 different answers.

In March, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told a national conservative radio program that the Earth is “cooling,” not warming.

Last week, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said global warming is real and hurting her state, acknowledging that “many believe” an international effort to reduce greenhouse gases is necessary.

And on Sunday, Republican leader John Boehner dismissed as “almost comical” the idea that carbon dioxide is “a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment,” arguing that it must be safe because humans “exhale” it and cows deposit it.

E&E Daily (Subs. Req’d)

FPL bets $200M on Miami ’smart grid’ project

(also reported in NY Times here)

Miami is trying to become the second “smart grid city.” Following Boulder Colorado’s example, Miami plans to install smart meters to monitor energy use on an individual level. The $200 million project is expected to last for two years. Here’s the scoop:

Florida Power & Light Co. is spearheading a $200 million project to supply Miami-Dade County with power-monitoring and renewable-energy technologies during the next two years.

The initiative, called Energy Smart Miami, calls for installing more than 1 million “smart” meters in every home and most businesses in the county during the next two years. The meters, supplied by General Electric Co., would enable FPL and its customers to track and adjust electricity supply and demand.

Silver Spring Networks and Cisco Systems Inc. will supply the county with additional grid communications software, hardware and support, company executives announced yesterday in Miami, alongside Mayor Manny Diaz.

“When you wake up in the morning, your energy display will show how much energy you used the day before,” said Lew Hay III, chairman and CEO of FPL Group Inc., Florida Power & Light’s parent company.

FPL plans to add 300 plug-in, hybrid-electric vehicles to its county fleet and build 50 charging stations. The city of Miami, the University of Miami, Miami Dade College and Florida International University will test additional plug-in vehicles.

Finally, FPL will supply Miami Dade College and other schools with solar photovoltaic panels and battery installations to store power for use during times of peak demand, Hay said.

“The Energy Smart Miami initiative is an investment in the future of our city … and is an important step toward creating the green jobs of the future and building a clean-energy economy,” Diaz said.

FPL plans to seek federal stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to cover a portion of Energy Smart Miami’s $200 million cost, Hay said.

FPL plans to expand the project to more than 4 million homes in Florida during the next five years. The expansion is expected to cost another $500 million.

Is Being Overweight a Climate Problem?

Looking for inspiration to lose weight?

It may be worth taking a look at the results of a report in latest issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology.

The study concludes that being overweight or obese “should be recognized as an environmental problem” because of its contribution to climate change from additional food and transport emissions.

Increasing Antarctic Sea Ice Extent Linked To Ozone Hole

Increased growth in Antarctic sea ice during the past 30 years is a result of changing weather patterns caused by the ozone hole, according to new research.

Reporting in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and NASA say that while there has been a dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice, Antarctic sea ice has increased by a small amount as a result of the ozone hole delaying the impact of greenhouse gas increases on the climate of the continent.

Compiled by Max Luken and Carlin Rosengarten

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This entry was posted by Max and Carlin on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 am and is filed under Climate Progress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.