A new analysis by independent American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy states:
The federal energy efficiency provisions included in H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (a.k.a. Waxman-Markey), could save approximately $1,050 per household by 2020 and $4,400 per household by 2030 ...
Changes to ACEEE's analysis come from an updated assessment of savings from a number of provisions, as well as changes to the bill made in a Rule's Committee version of the bill released yesterday.
Changes to the efficiency provisions bill include the addition of Smart Grid appliances in the Best-In-Class Appliance Deployment Program and a new program operated by small rural electric cooperatives to reduce customer bills and promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. In addition, 10 percent of the SEED (State Energy and Environmental Development) program is set aside for transportation programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill also changed the distribution of R&D funds, 70 percent of which will go to Advanced Energy Research and 30 percent of which will go to "Energy Innovation Hubs" at universities. |
Meanwhile, a new analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency takes issue with a claim by the Obama administration that Waxman-Markey "will create a set of incentives that will spur the development of new sources of energy, including wind, solar, and geothermal power," incentives that "will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy."
According to page 27 of the analysis, published Tuesday, the legislation, sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, and Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, would actually result in slightly less new renewable energy generation capacity by the year 2020 than if the U.S. continued on a business-as-usual path with no emissions caps. The reason for this, the EPA says, is twofold.
First, the bill’s efficiency measures – such as those that requiring more efficient buildings and appliances - would reduce overall electricity demand "significantly." Less demand means less need for new generation, including power from the wind, sun and biomass.
The bill also won’t sufficiently drive up the price of dirty fossil fuels to encourage a big switch to renewables, the analysis says. (Here’s how that sounds in untranslated EPA-speak: "Allowances prices are not high enough to drive a significant amount of additional low or zero-carbon energy . . . in the shorter term.") ...
The EPA analysis doesn’t challenge the notion that greenhouse-gas emissions will fall, a central thrust of the bill. But it indicates that the reductions will occur to a large degree because the legislation allows companies to meet their obligations by investing in offsets – activities that are supposed to avoid or reduce emissions but which occur in areas not directly regulated by the legislation. Examples include paying farmers to switch to no-till agriculture, or paying Brazilians to protect rainforests. |
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The rescue begins below and continues in the jump. (The next Green Diary Rescue will appear Sunday, June 28.)
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mogmaar offered a pregame on German Prime Minister Angela Merkel's visit to the United States in his diary Climate on the agenda: "All the climate buzz this week has been about the now notorious ACES bill that comes to a floor vote in the US House of Representatives today. But anyone who wants real action on climate change must remember the ultimate prize – the UN treaty to be negotiated in Copenhagen this December....Obama and Merkel are meeting this week and are expected to talk about what positions they will take on climate at the upcoming G8 Summit and at the UN negotiations leading up to Copenhagen. If both convey that their respective countries take climate change seriously and are ready to lead by committing to no more than 1.5° of warming, it could have a significant impact on the negotiations."
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The Overnight News Digest is posted. Included is the story: Climate change will soon be the world's greatest health crisis.
Bruce Nilles wrote From the Senate to the WV Coalfields, a Pivotal Week for Mountaintop Removal: "This has been a historic and game-changing week in the fight to end mountaintop removal. We will undoubtedly look back on the events of the past few days as a major turning point in the struggle to end this incredibly destructive form of coal mining. There has never been a more important time to make your voice heard, and we hope you will join us. The most timely news is today’s historic hearing on Capitol Hill: 'The Impacts of Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining on Water Quality in Appalachia.' The hearing is being conducted by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Work Committee's Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife."
buildrail argued that Obama's Transportation Policy Needs Revision: "The most exciting aspect of the bill to me is the $50 billion for high speed rail. This represents a significant federal investment in quality rail transit. Of course, China and Spain are spend[ing] far more on high speed rail despite having much smaller economies. Also, the draft bill would create a National Infrastructure Bank, a crucial component to securing needed extra funding for infrastructure projects. The total pricetag of the bill is $450 billion, a 57% increase over the 2005 version. Of course, the Obama administration has been pushing Congress to delay passage of a new transportation bill until after the 2010 midterm elections."
Kossacks United For Climaticide was the provocative accusation of terryhallinan: "Organic milk purveyors and consumers talking about environmental sellouts is akin to Republicans complaining about deficit spending. The evidence for organic milk contributing to climaticide? Oh it's all been done before - as if anyone cared. Some boring arguments, without the usual sensational tripe, to follow."
HeyMikey was excited to point out that the Sears Tower is going green: "The owners of the Sears Tower in Chicago are undertaking a major effort to reduce its energy use, and to add generating capability -- solar panels and wind turbines. Their goal is for the building to generate 100% of the power needs of a new hotel they plan to build next door."
Adama D Brown had a follow-up on The Zombie Energy Plan, Part Two: "You heard yesterday about the parts of Chris Lee's "energy plan" that he didn't feel like talking too much about, the parts lifted straight from George Bush and last year's failed Republican strategy for expanding big oil. Now, let's have a look at what Lee did see fit to talk up. What follows are a few excerpts from the 'plan summary' on Lee's official website, along with my comments.
Commenters weren't too pleased with BobTinKY's take in Cash for Clunkers but nothing for the more responsible car owner: "Cash for clunkers was signed into law earlier this month by President Obama. It provides up to a $4,500 voucher for the purchase of a new, presumably more fuel efficient, vehicle for people trading in car rated at less than 18 MPG. But what about those of us who have always valued fuel efficiency? For example, my 2001 truck is rated at 21 MPG. What do we get toward purchasing yet another fuel efficient vehicle? Bupkiss! We get to pay for the program just like we pay for the Wall Street bailout."
The Electrical Worker introduced us to IBEW's New Working Green Web SiteFrom news stories about IBEW members working in solar, wind, biomass, nuclear power and clean coal, to information about green training and how to find work in the renewable energy sector, Working Green will be a one-stop spot for those who want to make sure green job will be good jobs."
johnnygunn posted a photo diary, Midsummer Meadows.
Health care 101: Our food is killing us lamented citisven: "First off, if there's only one thing you do regarding this issue, go see the new movie Food Inc. Better yet, take a friend or family member who usually doesn't think about what they eat. It's the Inconvenient Truth of agriculture, a two hour commitment to reshape consciousness and be entertained in the process. In fact, it really is the sequel movie that connects the dots between practices like the burning of fossil fuels and methane emissions that lead to Global Warming, and the perils of industrialized farming. It got under Monsanto's skin, so it's a good one. If you prefer to read, check out Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma or In Defense of Food, or Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation. The movie puts into pictures what these journalists have been writing about, and they're both narrators in Food Inc."