Energy and Commerce’s Emissions Plan, Brought to You by GM

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality has scheduled a legislative drafting session next Wednesday, June 13, on controversial draft energy legislation that would kneecap California’s landmark greenhouse gas standards and overturn the recent Supreme Court decision which clarified that the U.S. EPA has legal authority to limit greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

This draft legislation, put together by Subcommittee Chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) and full Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.), is absolutely the wrong approach to deal with the problem of global warming. It would not only take away EPA’s authority to tackle one of the nation’s biggest sources of global warming pollution, but would take away the rights of states as well. (Eleven other states have already adopted the California standards — something they can do now under the Clean Air Act — and others are considering similar action.)

There’s little wonder that these industry-friendly provisions are opposed not only by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but by eight governors (led by California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Governor and presidential candidate Bill Richardson), but by 15 attorneys general, the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, Northeastern environmental control officers, and by a large coalition of health, environmental and consumer groups.

If Dingell and Boucher persist in promoting this car-company strategy, they risk blowing up any legislation aimed at reducing oil imports. Let’s hope they reconsider before subcommittee members begin voting.

For more on this and related matters, check Clean Air Watch’s Blog for Clean Air.