In all likelihood, these will never be formally introduced on the Senate floor, but here’s a list of the strengthening amendments to the Climate Security Act that various senators have floated:
Renewable Electricity Standard, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): This amendment would require that states generate at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Scientific Review, John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): The amendment would require the U.S. EPA and the president to quickly propose new legislation to adjust the emissions-reduction framework — including targets and timelines — based on National Academy of Sciences (NAS) findings. It would also call for expedited congressional action to speed passage of these proposed adjustments.
Consumer and Job Protection, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.): The amendment would ensure that funds are available each year to fully cover the increased costs of goods and services for the bottom-income quintile of U.S. citizens and phase out the assistance over the second-to-bottom-income quintile. The amendment would also increase funding for green jobs. The amendment preserves and strengthens the role of Local Distribution Companies (LDC) to prioritize energy-efficiency programs.
Clean Energy Amendment, Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg (both D-N.J.): To remedy both the cut in funding to renewable energy and the projected windfall profits for fossil-fuel generators, this Polluter Pays Amendment will end the practice of fossil-fuel generators receiving free allowances after 10 years and move the savings to the states. Cumulatively, between 2012 and 2030, this proposal would transfer about $200 billion from fossil fuel generation transition to the states. States would then be required to spend a portion of this money on renewable energy, energy efficiency, worker transition, and low-income consumer assistance.
Energy Efficiency Amendment, Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): This amendment would strengthen the energy-efficiency provisions in the bill in several ways, though amendment language has not yet been finalized.
International Forest Protection, Menendez and Kerry: This amendment would increase funding for the set-aside to prevent emissions from tropical deforestation. The funding would be offset by a reduction in the transition assistance to the refiners of petroleum-based fuels.
International Adaptation, Menendez: This amendment would increase the near-term funding for international adaptation. The funding would be offset by a reduction in the transition assistance to the largest oil refiners.
