Focus of Climate Change Debate Shifting on the Hill

By Annie Russo
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begins implementing its rule regulating greenhouse gas emissions, the United States Senate is taking notice.  Last year, the EPA deemed global warming as a risk to public health and welfare and used it to justify regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.  It has been estimated by ACI-NA Environmental staff that approximately 10-20 airports will be required to now monitor greenhouse gas emissions under the EPA rule.

On Thursday, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a resolution that would block the EPA from enforcing these regulations.  So far, three Democrats and 36 Republicans have cosponsored the resolution.  Even with growing support, especially from Democrats representing large agricultural states, the Murkowski bill is not expected to pass the Senate.  However, it is believed that this legislation may change the climate change debate in the Senate.  The Murkowski legislation could be used as leverage to include language in the climate change bill that would preempt EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases.  The House passed climate change bill does contain preemption language.

As the Senate climate change debate is set to continue in the coming months, it is likely that we will see more efforts like Senator Murkowski’s.  With the mid-term elections on the horizon, efforts to protect important home state industries by vulnerable Senators will likely continue.