It isn't just Republican Congressmen and Senators who are opposing the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009; the Obama administration's carbon cap and trade measure pending in the House. Democrat Senator Bill Nelson of Florida is threatening to filibuster the measure in the Senate unless an amendment permitting oil and gas drilling off the Florida coast is stripped from the bill. Meanwhile, on the House side, Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman are meeting in person today to see if they can resolve an impasse between the committee staffs on the question whether EPA or the Agriculture Department should control agricultural carbon offsets. At the same time, House Republicans are calling for alternative proposal to increase domestic oil and gas production, and construction of 100 more nuclear power plants in the next 20 years.
The problem for the construction industry is this: passage of the Democrat backed cap and trade bill will promote construction in certain energy sectors, and passage of the Republican backed measure would promote construction in other energy sectors. A deadlock resulting in no legislation on the subject, however, will stall energy sector construction for the next two years.
The problem for the construction industry is this: passage of the Democrat backed cap and trade bill will promote construction in certain energy sectors, and passage of the Republican backed measure would promote construction in other energy sectors. A deadlock resulting in no legislation on the subject, however, will stall energy sector construction for the next two years.
