S. 1733, The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act

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S. 1733 would create clean energy jobs, promote energy independence, reduce global warming pollution, and transition to a clean energy economy.

Detailed Summary

Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act - Provides for the establishment of a cap and trade system for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances and sets goals of reducing U.S. emissions by 20% by 2020 and by 83% by 2050.

Sets forth provisions concerning the establishment of: (1) economy-wide GHG emission reduction goals; (2) transportation-related GHG emissions reduction goals and standards; (3) a coordinated approach to certifying and permitting geological storage of carbon dioxide; (4) regulations for geological storage wells; (5) performance standards for new coal-fired power plants; (6) the Carbon Storage Research Corporation; (7) programs to research the safety and performance of nuclear power plants, train nuclear workers, and develop understanding of, and new technologies for, spent nuclear waste management; (8) water use efficiency programs, a research program to assist drinking water utilities in adapting to the effects of climate change, and a water system mitigation and adaptation partnership program to provide funds to states for water system adaptation projects; (9) an Office of Consumer Advocacy within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); (10) a national product carbon disclosure program; (11) a State Recycling Program; (12) a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Incentives Program to provide financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural lands and forest land for projects that increase carbon sequestration or reduce GHG emissions; (13) the Economic Development Climate Change Fund for sustainable economic development; (14) efficiency standards for buildings; (15) a program to promote dispatchable power generation projects that can accelerate the reduction of power sector carbon dioxide and other GHG emissions; (16) the Strategic Interagency Board on International Climate Investment to develop and improve mitigation policies and actions that reduce deforestation and forest degradation or conserve and restore forests in developing countries; (17) programs to assist developing countries in reducing emissions from deforestation; (18) the International Clean Energy Deployment Program to assist developing countries in reducing, sequestering, or avoiding GHG emissions; (19) an International Climate Change Adaptation and Global Security Program to assist the most vulnerable developing countries in climate change adaptation programs; (20) a National Climate Change Adaptation Program within the United States Global Change Research Program to increase the effectiveness of climate change adaptation efforts; (21) to create within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a National Climate Service; (22) a Natural Resources Climate Change Adaptation Panel and strategies for making natural resources more resilient to the impacts of climate change; (23) a National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to provide assistance and tools for adaptation to climate change; (24) habitat and corridors information systems of geographical information system databases; (25) a Flood Control, Protection, Prevention and Response Program to provide assistance to states; and (26) a program to reduce the risk of wildfires in fire-ready communities.

Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) advancing or encouraging clean, renewable, alternative, innovative and/or efficient energy technology, projects, research and/or practices; (2) supporting the development of programs to aid workers in the fields of clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, and adaptation; (3) climate change adjustment assistance for workers displaced as a result of this Act; (4) implementing a strategic action plan to assist health professionals in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change on public health; (5) distributing funding to coastal states for projects addressing the impacts of climate change in the Great Lakes coastal watershed; and (6) reducing emissions of black carbon.

Green Taxis Act of 2009 - Authorizes states to prescribe requirements for fuel economy for taxicabs if they are at least as stringent as federal standards.

Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) promulgate regulations to cap and reduce GHG emissions, annually, so that GHG emissions from capped sources are reduced to 97% of 2005 levels by 2012, 80% by 2020, 58% by 2030, and 17% by 2050; (2) set aside a specified percentage of emission allowances to be used to achieve an additional 10% reduction from 2005 U.S. emission levels in 2020 by providing incentives to reduce emissions from international deforestation; and (3) establish a federal GHG registry. Designates carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from a chemical manufacturing process at an industrial stationary source, perfluorocarbons, and nitrogen trifluoride as GHGs. Authorizes the EPA Administrator to designate additional athropogenic GHGs.

Requires EPA to establish specified emission allowances (tonnage limits) for each of 2012-2050. Authorizes the Administrator to either: (1) regulate the production of perfluorocarbon under such limits; or (2) subject such production to the best available control technology and regulations phasing down the consumption of perfluorocarbon and importation of products containing perfluorocarbon.

Provides for the establishment and distribution of compensatory allowances for the destruction and conversionary use of fluorinated gases and the non-emissive use of petroleum-based or coal-based liquid or gaseous fuel, petroleum coke, natural gas liquid, or natural gas as a feedstock. Prohibits any person from manufacturing, introducing into interstate commerce, or emitting a significant quantity of certain fluorinated gas that is generated as a byproduct during the production or use of another fluorinated gas.

Phases in prohibitions against covered entities (including electricity sources, fuel producers and importers, industrial gas producers and importers, nitrogen trifluoride sources, geological sequestration sites, industrial stationary sources, industrial fossil fuel-fired combustion devices, natural gas local distribution companies, resource and development facilities that emitted 25,000 tons per year or more of carbon dioxide equivalent, algae-based fuels, and fugitive emissions) exceeding allowable emission levels. Requires covered entities to demonstrate compliance through: (1) holding emission allowances at least as great as attributable emissions; or (2) using offset credits.

Provides for trading, banking and borrowing, auctioning, selling, exchanging, transferring, holding, or retiring emission allowances. Sets forth provisions governing the disposition of emission allowances, including giving allowance values to: (1) benefit energy consumers and low income consumers, energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries, local distribution companies, merchant coal units, generators, refineries, and renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts; (2) address the impacts of climate change; and (3) reduce the deficit.

Requires EPA to promulgate regulations to phase down the consumption of, and regulate the production of, HFCs. Specifies consumption allowances for: (1) each of 2012-2032; and (2) 2033 and thereafter. Provides for: (1) the distribution, auction, banking, exchange, and international transfer of such allowances; and (2) the issuance of offset credits for the destruction of chlorofluorocarbons.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 11/5/2009: Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Date of scheduled consideration. SD-406. 9:00 a.m.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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