The small business legislation SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 (S. 493), introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), is being used as a vehicle for senators who wish to prevent regulation of greenhouse pollution from oil refineries, coal-fired power plants, heavy industry, and other major emitters. Four amendments, varying from the Upton-Inhofe legislation to prevent any and all action by the Environmental Protection Agency against climate change, to a two-year suspension of climate rules from Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), have been introduced. Votes on some combination of the amendments are expected to take place as early as Thursday afternoon.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has introduced amendment 183, the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011, first introduced by Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). The amendment is cosponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.). The amendment calls for:
- The permanent prohibition on Clean Air Act regulation of greenhouse gases, other than the existing motor vehicle rules
- Repeal of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding and reporting requirements
- Preventing any future California waiver for tailpipe greenhouse emissions
Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) has introduced amendment 215, the EPA Stationary Source Regulations Suspension Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), and Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.). The amendment calls for:
- A two-year suspension of stationary source regulations of carbon dioxide and methane
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has introduced amendment 236, which has three elements:
- Forbidding regulation of greenhouse gases from a emitter that doesn’t also produce other regulated air pollution
- Codification of the EPA tailoring rule that establishes a 75,000 ton CO2e/year threshold for regulation
- Excluding regulation of biofuel emissions related to land-use changes, or any other agricultural activities whatsover
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has introduced amendment 265, which has four elements:
- A two-year suspension of stationary source greenhouse gas regulations
- Preventing any future California waiver for tailpipe greenhouse emissions
- Excluding regulation of biofuel emissions related to land-use changes, or any other agricultural activities whatsover
- Allocating $5 billion to the Advanced Energy Project tax credit