Kerry-Graham-Lieberman Climate Discussions

Mark Green
Posted March 24, 2010

The Kerry-Graham-Lieberman climate discussions continue to be a work in progress. Until the proposal advances beyond the concept stage, we won't know enough to support or oppose it.

Because of the interconnected nature of energy to all aspects of our economy, climate and energy policy has an enormous potential impact on Americans and their ability to find jobs and purchase goods.

For that reason, we need to see more details of the plan and an Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis that assesses the plan's impacts on energy production and the economy.

Moving away from the House Waxman-Markey approach was imperative. The House bill would have eliminated millions more jobs than it created and unfairly burdened families, farmers, truckers and other regular users of gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products.

A sound climate and energy bill must recognize the importance of domestic oil and natural gas development to the nation's economy, the central role natural gas can play in reducing emissions, and the unsuitability of regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

More domestic oil and natural gas development will continue to be an essential ingredient of responsible energy policy. It can help fuel the nation's economic recovery, create vast numbers of new jobs, and deliver well over a trillion dollars in desperately needed revenue to government coffers.

Key stakeholders-including the U.S. oil and natural gas industry and, by proxy, the 9.2 million American workers supported by the industry and the hundreds of millions of Americans who consume its products-have been included in the ongoing discussions of the proposal. An open, inclusive process is vital to balanced legislation.