Carbon bill compromises in Congress see support from utilities and jeers from environmentalists
A proposition launched by the Democrats in the House of Representatives is receiving support by electricity providers as compromises are being made to accommodate both providers and consumers and hit carbon emissions targets.
A proposition launched by the Democrats in the House of Representatives is receiving support by electricity providers as compromises are being made to accommodate both providers and consumers and hit carbon emissions targets.
The amendments to the bill are said to slash the impact on power bills and allow a higher rate of achievement towards hitting the newly reduced target of 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2020.
Melissa McHenry, spokeswoman for American Electric Power, the highest consumer of coal for electricity generation, said, "It makes (the proposed bill) more reasonable and we've always said we would be willing to support a more reasonable cap-and-trade bill."
In addendum to the carbon emissions targets, a compromise requiring all utilities to source power from renewable energies amidst the relaxation on the originally set goal of 25 percent renewable generation by 2025 to 15 percent.
It is anticipated the bill will be passed next week even though pressure from environmental groups mount with warnings of the consequences of complacency towards significant cuts in C02 emissions will lead to severe weather-related disasters from climate change.
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