S. 3036 would direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases.
Detailed Summary
Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish: (1) a federal greenhouse gas (GHG) registry, for which certain facilities must report information regarding fossil fuels and GHGs produced and consumed; (2) specified quantities of GHG emission allowances, which decline for each of 2012 to 2050; and (3) a GHG emission allowance transfer system for specified covered facilities, including facilities that use more than 5,000 tons of coal in a year, facilities in the natural gas sector, facilities that produce or entities that import petroleum- or coal- based fuel the combustion of which will emit a group I GHGs, facilities that produce or entities that import, in any year, more than 10,000 carbon dioxide equivalents of chemicals that are group I GHGs, and facilities that emit as a byproduct of the production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) more than 10,000 carbon dioxide equivalents of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in any year.
Provides for the use of feedstock, sequestration, and destruction credits.
Establishes: (1) a domestic offset program to sequester GHGs; (2) the Bonus Allowance Account for carbon capture and sequestration projects; (3) the Carbon Market Efficiency Board, which shall analyze the national GHG emission market and implement cost relief measures if the market poses significant harm to the U.S. economy; (4) the Climate Change Credit Corporation, to which specified percentages of emission and remainder emission allowances for 2012-2050 shall be allocated and which shall auction such allowances annually; and (5) the Deficit Reduction Fund into which auction proceeds shall be deposited.
Requires the Administrator to establish new qualifying levels and requirements of Energy Star certification for retail carbon offsets.
Provides for the allocation and distribution of emission allowances to states and facilities on the basis of emission reductions, energy savings, state programs that exceed federal emission reduction targets, state expenditures for low-income home energy assistance programs, and relative potential carbon dioxide emissions. Specifies how states shall use such allowances, including to mitigate impacts on low-income energy consumers, to promote energy efficiency and investment in nonemitting electricity generation technology, to improve public transportation, to encourage advances in energy technology that reduce or sequester GHG emissions, to address impacts of climate change, and to improve recycling programs.
Establishes and provides for the deposit of auction proceeds to and allocations from: (1) the Energy Assistance Fund; (2) the Climate Change Worker Training Fund; (3) the Adaptation Fund; (4) the Climate Change and National Security Fund; (5) the Bureau of Land Management Emergency Firefighting Fund; (6) the Forest Service Emergency Firefighting Fund; and (7) the Climate Security Act Management Fund. Provides for the use of auction proceeds, including for programs concerning zero- or low-carbon energy technologies, advanced coal and sequestration technologies, incentives for production of fuel from cellulosic biomass, advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentives, and sustainable energy.
Requires the Secretary of State to establish an International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Program within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to set forth provisions concerning appliance energy efficiency requirements and state building energy efficiency code updates.
Requires the President to establish: (1) an interagency group to determine whether foreign countries have addressed GHGs; and (2) an Interagency Climate Change Task Force.
Requires: (1) the Administrator to establish an international reserve allowance program; and (2) the proceeds from sales of such allowances to be used to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on other countries' disadvantaged communities.
Amends the Safe Drinking Water Act to require the Administrator to permit commercial-scale underground injection of carbon dioxide for purposes of geological sequestration.
Requires the Administrator to establish a cap on and allocate allowances for HFC consumption in the .United States for 2010-2050. Prohibits consumption of an HFC or products or equipment containing any HFC except as provided in this Act. Amends the Clean Air Act to: (1) set forth requirements concerning the sale or distribution, use, and disposal of HFC substitutes; and (2) direct the Administrator to establish an advanced clean fuel performance standard.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 7/8/2008: Senate floor actions. Status: Returned to the Calendar. Calendar No. 742.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Greatdanes
This is OUTRAGEOUS. The Congress must be Stopped and we have to Get Rid of each and every Senator and Congressman. This is SUCIDE for America! Global Warming is a SCAM and Will destroy the Country and make us all Slaves. Americans STAND UP and FIGT BACK. Say NO to this Bill.
Mia
Congress is putting us in the poorhouse. The criminals that call themselves politicians cannot be allowed to continue their abuse of Americans. Please, please, vote against any and all incumbents. They are destroying us with each government handout and regulation.
HNatalie
We all want American energy independence, and clean, cheap fuel. However, the "Government" will never be the ones to achieve this... the "people" WILL. This bill is Cap and Tax and will never get overturned once it's passed. We're not doomed, but we're in very bad shape. We need to take our Government back from this pack of self-serving idiots. Every one of them... Republican and Democrat, alike. I would like to see the Government "manage the treasury" and "man the military" - that's IT. Nothing else. Everything else, and I mean EVERYTHING should be State's Rights. Could a second American Revolution be coming? I'd like to wish so, but I sincerely doubt it.
MJR
I agree we must stop this bill at all costs. I can not think of a more poorly conceived piece of legislation since ethanol subsidies.
RLS
The American people need to be educated about Global Warming. If you think global warming is a scam, you are ignorant and uneducated. Get a life and an education.We won't have an economy if we don't have a planet.
BCT
RLS
I am educated... it's the SUN stupid! I'm all for clean air and water and being good stewards for our planet... but congress isn't going to solve it. we need energy independence and the market is going to drive a changer to cleaner (greener) and CHEAPER energy. Congress is the reverse if king midas... everything they touch turns to crap.
RLS
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) "global warming is 'unequivocal' & human activity is the main driver, very likely causing most rise in temperature since 1950".
Mary-Michigan
Does anyone wonder why Congress rates so low on the opinion polls? It is because they are destroying the American Dream! There are huge oil reserves in Montana, and North Dakota that our Congress should have opened up for drilling long ago, as well as YESTERDAY -- the building of new refineries.
But no -- these knuckle-draggers only dream up more ways to tax the people back to the stone-age by causing us to be dependent on this country's enemies!
The opinion I have of our Congress cannot be spoken out- loud because of the uh-hum language I would revert to!
Nate
There is no one solution. Society has accepted global warming is a problem and we should do something about it. The oil lobby has an interest in disagreeing with anything that doesn't go their way and distorting the real situation: gas prices will continue to rise and we must do something about it. A cap and trade system would work either way we look at it : to lower carbon or lower demand for gas by encouraging innovative ways to create electricity. The industries that will be negatively effected do not like this legislation and will do everything they can to prevent it from occurring.
To leave the industry unregulated and without an incentive to keep our economy competitive is shortsighted. Look at the mortgage industry: because the government became less involved and left it to market forces, a whole lot of people were screwed. How many times are the people gonna fall for that?
EDH
Cap & trade will never work. As previously stated, this is an indirect & insidious TAX on the Aermican people; ALL of them rich & poor alike. It is a noble & desireable goal to develop cleaner burning fuels. Provide those that develop them tax credits. Until then, DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS. Sign Newt Gingrinchs petition to drill our own oil at americansolutions.org!!
David_N_MO
RLS, the IPCC has an agenda that promotes UN control of the world... just like the LOST treaty. And Nate, there are more professionals against the mankind induced global warming hypothosis than for it. This is nothing more than using fear mongering to make a power and money grab.
tom
we must give incentives to the average investor to be able to buy into limited partnership drilling programs. (intangable drilling expense was deductible on the federal tax form. the first 37 1/2 % of the income was tax free.) that happened years ago.. when that was stopped.. the independent wild catters went away. part of the problem.
Human Genome
Wow. $12 grand.
Does Congress have to go around a rape peoples' children before people f**king wake up and hang these gansters from lampposts?
Random
Ice used to freeze during the winter where I live...
bill
here we go again. the government trying to legislate a solution. don't they know that they screw it up evry time. we need to drill for more oil. look for new alternatives. build nuclear power plants. the governmnet should help, not hinder.
Nelle Miller
Drill on our soil, bring the gas prices down.................
Al
Drill for more oil and keep it in this country.
POPULATION
WHAT IS THE REAL #1 PROBLEM?
THE HUMANS
ARE OVER CONSUMING THE PLANET AND
WE ALL NEED TO CONSIDER THAT TO
CHANGE. WE MUST LOWER OR POPULATION
IN THE NEXT GENERATIONS TO BRING BALANCE.
Anti Population
Gee, "POPULATION." Sounds like a great place for some personal responsibility. Want to lower the population? Start with yourself.
bostontea
This isn't about cap and trade it is about control.And we thought the tax that brought about the Boston tea party was bad.
Les M.
HNatalie you are right on target. The government is never going to do anything for the people and we need to take back our country. The American people will be the ones who have to initiate change! Perhaps if we had as much money as the oil companies, we might be able to buy a Senator also!
Shocked but not suprised
Wow. The only thing listed as more costly was last years proposal of the same thing. We need to educate people like POPULATION, RLS, and Random, before they make the rest of our lives a living hell.
kimbo
Our population will get lowered dramatically when all the baby boomers start dying. Forced payment in the name of "the planet" rather than "proletariat." Why won't Al Gore debate Czech President Klaus on the issue?
Everyone here is right - it is OUR responsibility as citizens to stop our government's nonsensical spending of OUR money. Stand up and VOTE THEM OUT!
http://www.fee.org/library/books/notyours.asp
http://jpetrie.myweb.uga.edu/frog.html
Ron P
Another bill that we cannot afford,and will unemploy more Americans. The global economy can not be capped and traded. If the Chinese refuse to stop building coal fired plants and we build expensive "clean" power plants and vehicle who has the competive advantage in the market place?? The answer is not the USA and the corporations will move their capital always to the locatiion with lowest cost of production. We will lose jobs and create lower incomes for all Americans. Even us uneducated dumb taxpayers can see this for what it is and the long term implications. Just say No. We need alternative energy and to end our foreign oil addiction. We need incentives to do this and to build nuclear power plants. Not cap and trade schemes that unemploy Americans and help industrialize China and India.
Don't Drill
I don't agree with this bill. But the drill here, drill now people. Studies all show there will be very little change is oil price and it would take nearly a decade to see results. The results to the environment, wild life, and oil company profits will be immediate and swift!
Michelle-Bailey
I agree with Ron P we need to build
clean power plants here and set an example for the rest of the world.
What's left of the middle class can't afford 12,282.68 in additional taxes. Our congress needs to say NO to this bill its a bad idea.
Rob
Im all out of money for the government programs. Didn't you hear?? Im a first time investor!!
I just invested in something called "toxic debt" or maybe it was "bad assets", either way my financial adviser said this was the ONLY way I could protect my future ;o)
BTW, changing the name of this bill and slightly decreasing the total cost doesnt do a thing to make more appealing.