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By Christophe Uwizeyimana
An unexpected deal reached by Senate Democrats would be the most ambitious action ever taken by the United States to address global warming.
It could help President Joe Biden come close to meeting his pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, experts said on Thursday as they sifted through a massive bill that revives action on climate change. It comes just weeks after the legislation appeared dead.
The deal announced late Wednesday would spend nearly $370 billion (€362 billion) over 10 years to boost electric vehicles, jump-start renewable energy such as solar and wind power and develop alternative energy sources like hydrogen.
The deal stunned lawmakers and activists who had given up hope that legislation could be enacted after West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said he could not support the measure because of inflation concerns.
The bill could “put the US on track to reducing emissions by 31 to 44 per cent below 2005 levels in 2030”.
Clean energy tax credits and other provisions in the 725 page bill could “put the US on track to reducing emissions by 31 to 44 per cent below 2005 levels in 2030,” according to an analysis released late Thursday by the Rhodium Group, an independent research firm.
Additional action by the Biden administration and Democratic-controlled states could “help close the rest of the gap to (Biden’s) target of a 50 to 52 per cent cut in emissions by 2030,” said Ben King, the group’s associate director.
Will this ‘historic’ climate bill be approved in the US?
Approval of the bill is far from certain in the US Senate, which is split 50-50, where support from every Democrat will be needed to overcome unanimous Republican opposition. Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema from Arizona forced changes in earlier versions of the plan but declined to reveal her stance Thursday.
In the narrowly divided House, Democrats can lose no more than four votes and prevail in the vote.
Still, Biden called the bill “historic” and urged quick passage.
“We will improve our energy security and tackle the climate crisis by providing tax credits and investments for energy projects,” he said in a statement, adding that the bill “will create thousands of new jobs and help lower energy costs in the future.”
“This bill would be the most signification legislation in history to tackle the climate crisis and improve our energy security right away,” the President said on Thursday.
Environmental groups and Democrats also praised the legislation.
Passing this bill sends a message to the world that America is leading on climate.
“This is an 11th-hour reprieve for climate action and clean energy jobs, and America’s biggest legislative moment for climate and energy policy,” said Heather Zichal, CEO of America’s Clean Power, a clean energy group.
“Passing this bill sends a message to the world that America is leading on climate and sends a message at home that we will create more great jobs for Americans in this industry,” added Zichal, a former energy adviser to President Barack Obama.
Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of the League of Conservation Voters, summed up her reaction in a single word: “Wow!”
Holy shit. Stunned, but in a good way. $370B for climate and energy and 40% emissions reduction by 2030.
Manchin, who chairs the Senate energy panel, insisted that he had not changed his mind after he told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer two weeks ago that he could not support the bill because of inflation concerns.
“There should be no surprises. I’ve never walked away from anything in my life,” he told reporters on a Zoom call from West Virginia, where he is recovering from COVID-19.
Manchin said called the bill an opportunity “to really give us an energy policy with security that we need for our nation” while also driving down inflation and high gasoline prices.
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