All Of Idaho's Congressional Delegation Will Oppose GHG Legislation

Anything Congress can do to fight climate change is going to cost Americans more money for energy. That's why all four members of Idaho's congressional delegation are skeptical about efforts to pass a bill this year that would increase the cost of the fossil fuels that generate our electricity, power our automobiles and run our factories.

Late last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bill that would cap carbon dioxide emissions and allow industries to trade permits that allow them to pollute - called "cap and trade" in Beltway shorthand. This measure, written by congressional Democrats, also would set standards that require utilities to use wind, solar, geothermal and energy efficiency programs to cover at least 20 percent of the power they sell.

Even Democrat Walt Minnick, a former board member of the Idaho Conservation League, said passing the bill in the middle of a deep recession is not a good idea. "It's a question of timing," Minnick said. But he and the three Republicans he serves with know the issue could get a debate in Congress this year, so they are fighting to ensure it treats the state's hydroelectric power fairly and acknowledges that turning trees into electricity counts as "renewable." They also hope the bill helps nuclear development. "We are debating solutions right now and I am going to be engaged and make sure we don't adopt solutions that create even greater human and ecological harm," said Republican Sen. Mike Crapo.

The bill approved last week was significantly watered down from President Barack Obama's plan to auction off all the carbon emission permits and use the money for alternative energy and to offset the impact of higher prices on Americans. The House bill gives 85 percent of the permits to industry - mostly to electric utilities, followed by energy-intensive manufacturers, carmakers and natural-gas distributors - until 2030.

EDIT

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/780890.html

:eyes:

off limits, can then be harvested. Of course that means clear cutting which takes the healthy trees too.

and I'm not really seeing much of a different as far as the voting record goes. Ya'all can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.

It's a good thing the dems don't have to count on Minnick for anything of substance.

Q3JR4.