Bingaman: Cap and trade bill unlikely this year
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (The
> Associated Press) - Jan 5 - By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press
> Writer
>
> The chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
> said Tuesday that it's unclear whether Congress will be able to pass
> cap and trade legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions
> this year.
>
> Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said there's no consensus on what form a
> cap-and-trade system would take, but strong desire exists in both the
> Senate and House to pass other energy-related bills that would curb
> pollution blamed for global warming.
>
> Bingaman said the concern is that if Congress does not move forward on
> cap-and-trade legislation, emission reductions will be forced by
> federal regulators.
>
> "That will also drive up utility rates," he said. "The question is
> what will drive up utility rates the least, so that's what we're still
> trying to determine."
>
> President Barack Obama will have to rely on support from Bingaman and
> others in the Senate to achieve one of his top domestic priorities,
> which is setting up a cap-and-trade system that would put a price on
> each ton of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are
> released.
>
> Until Congress finds consensus on cap and trade, Bingaman is trying to
> tackle the problem through other legislative means, including an
> effort to encourage the production of renewable energy technologies in
> the U.S. by expanding a $2.3 billion manufacturing tax credit that was
> initially funded with stimulus money.
>
> The American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act would
> provide an additional $2.5 billion in tax credits. Bingaman said
> that's enough to leverage $8.33 billion in new domestic investment to
> help meet America's growing demand for alternative energy.
>
> "There's no simple, one solution to the problem. There's a whole range
> of things we need to be doing more," Bingaman said.
>
> The senator's comments came after a tour of Schott Solar's sprawling
> manufacturing plant on the southern edge of Albuquerque. Bingaman was
> among the officials who helped recruit Schott to New Mexico.
>
> The plant is the first in the U.S. to produce receiver tubes used in
> utility-scale concentrated solar power plants. Employees were
> preparing to ship out dozens of tubes off the assembly line during
> Bingaman's visit.
>
> Schott also produces solar photovoltaic panels. At the beginning of
> the year, the plant ramped up production to seven days a week.
>
> Despite a downturn in the photovoltaic market last year, Schott Solar
> CEO and president Gerald Fine said the company is "reasonably
> optimistic" about the potential over the next few years given that
> federal and state policies are encouraging a transition to renewable
> energy.
>
> Fine said a significant market is developing in North America and that
> European markets are growing.
>
> "There's lots of uncertainty. There are going to be lots of challenges
> coming up, but we feel like we're in the forefront of an important
> economic change in this country," Fine said.
> Associated Press) - Jan 5 - By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press
> Writer
>
> The chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
> said Tuesday that it's unclear whether Congress will be able to pass
> cap and trade legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions
> this year.
>
> Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said there's no consensus on what form a
> cap-and-trade system would take, but strong desire exists in both the
> Senate and House to pass other energy-related bills that would curb
> pollution blamed for global warming.
>
> Bingaman said the concern is that if Congress does not move forward on
> cap-and-trade legislation, emission reductions will be forced by
> federal regulators.
>
> "That will also drive up utility rates," he said. "The question is
> what will drive up utility rates the least, so that's what we're still
> trying to determine."
>
> President Barack Obama will have to rely on support from Bingaman and
> others in the Senate to achieve one of his top domestic priorities,
> which is setting up a cap-and-trade system that would put a price on
> each ton of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are
> released.
>
> Until Congress finds consensus on cap and trade, Bingaman is trying to
> tackle the problem through other legislative means, including an
> effort to encourage the production of renewable energy technologies in
> the U.S. by expanding a $2.3 billion manufacturing tax credit that was
> initially funded with stimulus money.
>
> The American Clean Technology Manufacturing Leadership Act would
> provide an additional $2.5 billion in tax credits. Bingaman said
> that's enough to leverage $8.33 billion in new domestic investment to
> help meet America's growing demand for alternative energy.
>
> "There's no simple, one solution to the problem. There's a whole range
> of things we need to be doing more," Bingaman said.
>
> The senator's comments came after a tour of Schott Solar's sprawling
> manufacturing plant on the southern edge of Albuquerque. Bingaman was
> among the officials who helped recruit Schott to New Mexico.
>
> The plant is the first in the U.S. to produce receiver tubes used in
> utility-scale concentrated solar power plants. Employees were
> preparing to ship out dozens of tubes off the assembly line during
> Bingaman's visit.
>
> Schott also produces solar photovoltaic panels. At the beginning of
> the year, the plant ramped up production to seven days a week.
>
> Despite a downturn in the photovoltaic market last year, Schott Solar
> CEO and president Gerald Fine said the company is "reasonably
> optimistic" about the potential over the next few years given that
> federal and state policies are encouraging a transition to renewable
> energy.
>
> Fine said a significant market is developing in North America and that
> European markets are growing.
>
> "There's lots of uncertainty. There are going to be lots of challenges
> coming up, but we feel like we're in the forefront of an important
> economic change in this country," Fine said.