DALLAS (December 18, 2001)- According to Sens. Jim Jeffords, Joseph Lieberman and John McCain, the purpose of their bill, the Clean Power Act of 2001, is to reduce air pollutant emissions at the nation's power plants. But according to an analysis released today by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), the inclusion of carbon dioxide as a covered pollutant, raises questions as to the true goal of the bill.

"Some analysts view the inclusion of carbon dioxide as a harmless attempt to placate environmental lobbyists and certain international allies," said NCPA Senior Fellow Sterling Burnett. "But including CO₂ is tantamount to establishing the Kyoto Protocol without Senate ratification."

The Kyoto Protocol was negotiated in 1997 in an effort to reduce global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the treaty failed to meet the requirements for participation in a global warming agreement set by a U.S. Senate baseline resolution. Acknowledging this fact, President Bush rejected the Kyoto treaty in March of this year.

Under the Clean Power Act of 2001, the government would regulate emissions through a "cap and trade" mechanism, allowing cleaner-operating plants to trade "emission rights." This, however, could and probably will lead to higher energy prices that will disproportionately affect lower- and middle-income Americans.

"Whatever the cause of global warming, the Clean Power Act doesn't address it," Burnett added, "and will only serve to bring Kyoto in through the back door. In the current economic climate, it will only serve to make a bad situation worse."

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For more information, contact NCPA public affairs at:

(972)386-6272 (Dallas, TX)
(202)220-3082 (Washington, DC)
or email: NCPA public affairs