Wednesday we wrote of the draft legislation introduced by Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) - the “American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009”.  It's a bold proposal that runs the gamut of environmental issues - emissions, cap and trade, climate change, alternative energy, green jobs, etc.  This likely marks the beginning of the most publicized portion of the climate and energy debate in America, and it comes during a time when whatever is talked about will be balanced with our current economic climate. Waxman and Markey's proposal isn't ideal, and there are serious holes in it, but like it or not, the debate just got a whole lot more visible. To help you form our own perception, we'll share with you some of what we read about the draft bill:

 

"Climate Bill is All about the Coal Hard Cash" by Jesse Jenkins.  Jenkins, a Pacific Northwestern like ourselves, has been one of the most vocal dissenting voices of this proposal, and his opinions are enough to make you really second guess your immediate acceptance of the proposal. Thanks to his constant Twitter updates, we know Jenkins spent a great deal of time combing through the bill.  And you'll see for yourselves in his article that appeared on the Huffington Post, and again on WattHead.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009: Climate Policy Gets Real by Steve Cohen of The New York Observer.  "While we can’t see the finish line, we’ve just heard the starter’s pistol."  That's how Cohen describes his belief that, "the great climate and energy debate will finally begin for real."  In his article, Cohen talks of the challenges this bill faces in light of our economic struggles.

 

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