Whitfield Works To Keep Energy Costs Low While Advancing Clean Coal Technologies

Press Release

Continuing his efforts to ensure Kentuckians will not be forced to pay sky high energy costs during an economic crunch, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) offered an amendment this week to the American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009 which would have protected consumers from volatile costs and helped advance technologies critical to the future of Kentucky coal.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which Whitfield serves, held a markup this week on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, sweeping climate change legislation which could have a detrimental impact on the U.S. economy and coal industry in Kentucky. The bill would establish a cap-and-trade program, which would place a "cap" or limit on carbon dioxide emissions. Existing power plants would be granted a certain number of emission credits to cover their carbon output, but would be forced to purchase or trade credits with other companies that have excess credits should they go over the limit.

During the markup, Whitfield offered an amendment to the bill which would have set a cap of $15 per carbon emission allocation with the money collected being used to fund additional technology research on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). This would limit economic uncertainty and protect consumers from having to pay the price for unattainable emission standards. Furthermore, if companies are forced to purchase additional emission allocations, the money collected will be used to advance CCS technologies which will in turn help to cut back on emissions.

"This amendment is a win for the consumer and a win for the environment," Whitfield said. "During tough economic times, we need to do everything we can to ensure Kentuckians are not saddled with soaring energy costs. My amendment will help keep costs low while still promoting curbing carbon emissions."

While the amendment offered by Whitfield was not adopted, the measure highlighted the need to ensure consumers are not adversely impacted by this legislation. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was passed out of Committee last night on a vote of 33-25. Whitfield voted against the legislation, which now awaits further consideration in various House Committees with jurisdiction over the broad and far-reaching bill.

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