Passing U.S. Climate Bill Might be Deterred; affect on green living unclear

April 23, 2010 in Green Living

The U.S. climate bill backed and pushed by Senator John Kerry, which contains incentives to build a dozen nuclear power plants, could be deterred once again in favor of an immigration bill. This could seriously affect green living and how much money goes into pushing green living ideas on a national level.

The climate-control legislation aims to bring the United States into a global effort to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and increase health of Americans. Many say these greenhouse gases are a cause for global warming. The climate bill also includes the approval of government spending on 12 nuclear power plants. These plants influence green living in the following ways:

• A coal power plant releases 100 times as much radiation as a nuclear power plant
• Deaths at nuclear power plants from 1970-92 were only 8 as opposed to 342 at coal plants and 85 for natural gas
• Nuclear plants do not produce carbon dioxide, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• According to a 2007 story on 60 Minutes, nuclear power gives France the cleanest and cheapest air in any industrialized country

Although nuclear power plants are a great source of help for green living and the environment, there are not many of them because of how much they cost. One plant can cost $5-10 billion to build, which is why they need government funding. Because of this, not one nuclear plant has been governmentally approved in three decades! The climate bill also includes the following:

• Protections against regulatory delays
• Loan guarantees
• Cap o emissions from power plants that would begin in 2013
• Value of permits in the market would be limited to an initial maximum of $25 per ton

This climate bill is not the first version; these added points are changes from the original. Some of these amendments were green tips to help ensure it being more appeasing to senators; it is less stringent on big polluters, therefore there will be fewer complaints from major companies if it is passed. However, the Senate doubts the legislation will pass this year because their main priority is the immigration bill.