President Obama Met With Senator John Kerry Today

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

By Norris McDonald

Let Us Hope That President Obama Told Senator Kerry To Tighten Up The Climate Legislation

Just as the Obama administration stiffened its back in the face of health care reform opposition, so too should it in the face of climate change mitigation opposition. We support an economy wide Cap-and-Trade climate change mitigation program that will inspire the rest of the world to join in. Senator Kerry is working with Senators Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman to craft global warming legislation and rumor has it that they are considering a watered-down plan that only includes the largest emitters. The cap would only apply to facilities emitting more than 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Their reported draft plan covers about 14,000 industrial pollution sources across the country, like coal-fired power plants and cement manufacturers, but not smaller sources like hospitals or most agricultural operations. Where are the innovation prospects in that plan?

The Center is the canary in the climate change legislation mine. If legislation allows for us to innovate and provides an avenue for participation, then it is a living plan. If it excludes us, then the plan is an innovation killer. The Center has been preparing for emissions trading 'big time' for some time. We have been registered in EPA's Acid Rain Program to hold and trade SOx and NOx for many years. We are registered in the Northeastern Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). We want to register in a national GHG allowance trading system and we have developed a trading house (CMX) process offsets. Innovation comes from small businesses and creative entrepreneurs.

So we hope President Obama strongly encouraged Senator Kerry to produce a legitimate climate change mitigation bill at their meeting this morning.