Wisconsin Governor Discusses the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle appeared on E&E TV on July 6, 2009.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said the greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade legislation being considered by Congress takes into account the needs of coal-dependent and agricultural states and will help drive a transition to a cleaner energy economy.
“I'm very encouraged about what's happening in Washington because from my point of view … it's much better to have a national cap-and-trade system,” Doyle said in an interview on E&E TV that aired July 6.
The House in June passed the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009 – national climate and energy legislation that would establish an economy-wide, GHG cap-and-trade system. The debate over cap and trade has moved to the Senate.
Doyle noted in the interview that Rep. Henry Waxman, chief co-sponsor of the ACES Act along with Rep Ed. Markey, carefully listened to his concerns and that efforts to develop a Midwest regional cap-and-trade program also helped inform the federal debate.
“[The bill] really did take into account some of the very specific needs of a state like Wisconsin,” Doyle said. For example, Doyle said that the allocation measures in the ACES Act will help utilities and sensitive industries manage their costs, and the offsets measures will be important because Wisconsin is a big agriculture and forestry state.
Gov. Doyle referred to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 that set up a cap-and-trade system to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, arguing that such a system will also work to limit carbon dioxide emissions. He also indicated that the bill would set Wisconsin on track to develop a clean energy economy with in-state energy production and new green jobs. The Governor cited Wisconsin’s ample agricultural resources, forestry resources, and research capacity as potential areas for growth in a clean energy economy.
“This is a huge opportunity for us,” he said. “So for those that want us to just stay on the course we're on, where we are just sending billions to the Middle East and the climate is changing, it's not a good course. And the other course actually not only helps clean up the planet, but actually can provide a lot of great jobs in Wisconsin.”
A long-standing supporter of state action on climate change, Gov. Doyle was a leading force driving the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, which now includes five other Midwestern states and one Canadian province. The Advisory Group for the Midwestern Accord recently released draft final recommendations for a regional cap-and-trade program that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 18-20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. Gov. Doyle has noted that such efforts are important in the absence of national policy, but he favors a national climate program.
Click here to watch the entire E&E TV interview with Gov. Doyle.
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