SOUTHERN REPUBLICAN CALLS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION

It is not news if Al Gore calls for action on climate change. But when his Republican colleague from Tennessee, Senator Lamar Alexander, says “The question before the Senate is not whether to act on climate change, or when to act, but how to act…” you know something is finally brewing.

The Senate is presently considering a compromise climate change bill sponsored by Senators Lieberman and Warner. The carbon cap is in the details.

Alexander’s speech added to his earlier advocacy of power plant emissions controls a call for a “low carbon fuel standard” for the transportation sector and “aggressive” action to increase building efficiency. These are welcome but disturbingly vague proposals.

Alexander: Now Is The Time For Action On Climate Change; Announces Plans to Broaden His Climate Change Legislation and Push for a Sector-by-Sector Approach Focusing on Power Plants, Transportation and Building Efficiency
October 18, 2007 (The Chattanoogan)

WHO
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

US emissions by sector, year 2000 (click to enlarge)
Image from Wikipedia

WHAT
Alexander, who has advocated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction programs but fought progressive energy legislation, expanded his program, calling for measures to control GHG emissions in three major US economic sectors.

WHEN
- April 2007: Alexander sponsored legislation (with Lieberman) to control power plant emissions.
- June 2007: Alexander fought legislation mandating that electricity be generated from renewables.

WHERE
1/3 of US GHG emissions come from the power generating sector.

WHY
- Alexander’s previous proposals had to do with capping emissions in the power production sector. His speech called for controls on transportation and building emissions.
- Alexander described the GHG controls he seeks as the “simplest” and “most cost effective.”

2005 US emissions, by sector. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Alexander: “I prefer a sector-by-sector approach—that is, devising the lowest-cost, least complex approach tailored to each of the three largest sectors of the economy that produce the most greenhouses gases. My approach avoids grand plans that sound good but turn out to invoke the high law of unintended consequences…”
- Alexander: “Tailoring our approach to just these three sectors – power plants, transportation, and buildings – would cover about two-thirds of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions…As we implement laws reducing emissions from these three sectors, we can learn more and move on to other sectors in the future.”