Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) (pictured), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), has announced that he will hold a long-awaited markup on his so-called “four pollutant” bill in February. The legislation (S. 556) calls for significant reductions in the emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, carbon dioxide (CO2), and mercury from power plants and other industrial facilities by 2007.
The Bush Administration opposes the Jeffords plan to control CO2, and has pledged to introduce its own multi-pollutant bill. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet released the details of its plan, as the Agency has been deeply involved in responding to terrorist threats, clean-up at the World Trade Center, and sanitation of anthrax-contaminated sites in Washington, D.C., and other areas. EPA now believes that the plan will be unveiled in late January.
Republicans on the EPW Committee, with the exception of Senator Lincoln Chafee (R?RI), oppose the Jeffords bill. The industry is also opposed to the Jeffords bill, because it likely would force a full-scale move away from coal-powered electricity generation. Industry representatives do, however, support reductions in certain pollutants (but not CO2) if facilities are given flexibility in reaching the goals; if the costs are not excessively burdensome; if emissions trading is permitted; if the controversial New Source Review program is reformed; and if adequate time is provided to meet the goals of the legislation.
