American Energy

Critics: Climate bill will hurt some regions more

June 10, 2009

By many analyses the climate cap and trade scheme will hurt American families across the country by raising the cost of electricity, food, transportation, clothing.  In some regions of the country, it is simply a regressive tax that will hurt low income families the most.  The regional disparity in the economic burden is too great for state and local economies.  This climate policy is simply a risky new tax that Americans cannot afford to pay. – George Allen

From TheHill

By Jim Snyder

Critics of the House climate change bill are moving to weaken support by emphasizing that it will raise energy costs in some states more than in others.

By focusing on state-by-state disparities, opponents hope to divide Democrats based on the regions they represent.

One of the measure’s chief critics, Republican Joe Barton of Texas, said at a House panel hearing on Tuesday that the bill as written would result in a “wealth transfer” from the Southeast, which relies heavily on coal to produce electricity, to the Northwest, which uses more hydropower.

“It’s not fair,” said Barton, who also disputed the contention that humans were the principal cause of global warming. The House bill would cap carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and would create a marketplace in which businesses trade allowances to meet emissions targets. An allowance is worth a metric ton of carbon dioxide. During the first phase of the program, the allowances would largely be distributed for free by the government in an effort to mitigate costs increases.

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