Order Code RL32955
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress
Updated July 18, 2005
Brent D. Yacobucci
Specialist in Energy Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress
Summary
Climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are an issue in the 109th
Congress, as they have been in past Congresses. Bills directly addressing climate
change issues range from those focused primarily on climate change research to
comprehensive emissions cap-and-trade programs for the six greenhouse gases
covered under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Additional bills focus on GHG reporting and registries, or on power plant emissions
of carbon dioxide as part of wider controls on pollutant emissions.
Within several broad categories, the bills vary in their approaches to climate
change issues. For example, some bills covering research issues focus solely on
modeling the effects of future climate change, while others address the development
of monitoring technologies. Bills focusing on technology deployment do so through
tax incentives and credit-based programs within the United States, or through the
promotion of deployment in developing countries. Bills with greenhouse gas
registries may be voluntary or mandatory, and vary in the entities covered and the
gases registered. Bills with emission reduction requirements also vary in the entities
covered, the gases limited, and the target emissions levels.
This report briefly discusses the basic concepts on which these bills are based,
and compares major provisions of the bills in each of the following categories:
climate change research, technology deployment, GHG reporting and registries, and
emissions reduction programs. This report will be updated as events warrant.

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Contents
Energy Bill Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Climate Change Research Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Deployment of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
GHG Reporting and Registry Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
GHG Emission-Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Carbon Dioxide Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Comprehensive GHG Emissions Reductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Comparison of Emissions Reduction Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
List of Tables
Table 1. Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Reduction Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Appendix 1. Climate Change Bills in the 109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Appendix 2. Key Provisions of Climate Change Legislation in the
109th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Climate Change Legislation
in the 109th Congress
Climate change is generally viewed as a global issue, but proposed responses
generally require action at the national level. In 1992, the United States ratified the
United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which
called on industrialized countries to take the lead in making voluntary efforts to
reduce greenhouse gases.1 Over the past decade, a variety of voluntary and regulatory
actions have been proposed or undertaken in the United States, including monitoring
of utility carbon dioxide emissions, improved appliance efficiency, and incentives for
developing renewable energy sources. In 2001, President George W. Bush rejected
the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, which called for legally binding commitments
by developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, the Bush
Administration has focused on reducing the greenhouse gas intensity2 of the U.S.
economy. In the meantime, some states and local governments, as well as private
entities, have taken actions to reduce emissions and limit the potential impacts of
climate change. In light of these actions, a number of bills have been introduced in
Congress to address climate change.
In the 109th Congress, numerous bills have been introduced that directly or
indirectly address climate change. Several bills address the climate change issue
directly, either through emissions limits, incentives for reductions, or research and
information gathering on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions mitigation.
This report describes and compares bills that directly address climate change, as
opposed to those that address other issues but could have ancillary impacts (e.g.,
energy efficiency and conservation). Topics covered by these bills fall into four
major categories: (1) those that would promote research on the effects of climate
change and on methods to measure and predict climate change; (2) those that would
create incentives for the deployment of emission-reducing technologies in the United
States or other countries; (3) those that would establish greenhouse gas (GHG)
monitoring systems as a basis for research or for any potential reduction program;
and (4) those that would establish market-based programs to directly limit
greenhouse gas emissions. These categories are not mutually exclusive, and several
bills address more than one of the above categories. The major provisions of these
bills are categorized in Appendix 1 and summarized in Appendix 2.
In several cases, bill sponsors have introduced modified versions of their climate
change bills. For the purposes of the discussion below, it is assumed that the newest
1 Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO , the most ubiquitous and primary greenhouse
2
gas), methane (CH ), nitrous oxide (N O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons
4
2
(PFCs), and sulfur hexaflurane (SF ). Some other greenhouse gases are controlled under the
6
Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.
2 Greenhouse gas intensity is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (or equivalent)
emitted per unit of gross domestic product.

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CRS-2
version supersedes earlier versions. These bills include S. 1151 for S. 342 (McCain);
S. 883 for S. 386 (Hagel); S. 887 for S. 388 (Hagel); and S. 1203 for S. 387 (Hagel).
Energy Bill Amendments
As part of the Senate debate over H.R. 6, an omnibus energy bill, several
amendments on climate change were offered. S.Amdt. 817, which inserted a new
Title XVI in the bill, incorporates language from S. 883 and S. 887. This amendment
was agreed to on a 66-29 vote. Title XVI of the Senate version of H.R. 6 would
establish a voluntary national program designed to accelerate demonstration and
deployment of less-carbon-intensive technology to encourage voluntary reductions
in greenhouse gases. The sections attempt to support actions focused on reducing
U.S. carbon intensity (the ratio of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross
domestic product). The program would not establish a requirement to reduce
emissions. This title would also establish a program to encourage exports of carbon
intensity-reducing technologies to developing countries. The House version of H.R.
6 does not expressly address climate change issues.
Section 1612 of the Senate bill expresses the Sense of the Senate that human
activities are a substantial cause of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere,
causing average temperatures to rise. Further, the resolution states that “Congress
should enact a comprehensive and effective national program of mandatory
market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases that slow, stop,
and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that — (1) will not
significantly harm the United States economy; and (2) will encourage comparable
action by other nations that are major trading partners and key contributors to global
emissions.” This is the first Sense of the Senate resolution on climate change since
S.Res. 98 in 1997, which voiced concern over the economic effects of emissions
limits and the sense that developing countries must participate in meaningful action
to control emissions.
The Senate also debated whether to adopt S.Amdt. 826, which contained
language similar to S. 1151. This amendment would have established a mandatory
cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas emissions from covered entities to year
2000 levels by 2010. This amendment was rejected on a 38-60 vote.
Climate Change Research Bills

Global climate change is a complex issue. While most scientists agree that the
climate is changing in response to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, uncertainties
concerning the causes and the effects of climate change remain and are a continuing
subject of extensive scientific research.3 Further, research is ongoing into
technologies to improve efficiency, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and sequester
carbon dioxide emissions.
3 For more information on the science and policy of Global Climate Change see CRS Issue
Brief IB89005, Global Climate Change.

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CRS-3
Research Bills. One bill in the 109th Congress, S. 245 (Collins), focuses
solely on climate change research.4 S. 245 calls for the development and testing of
climate change models based on historic climatic changes, and to incorporate
nonlinear aspects of geophysical systems that could lead to abrupt changes in climate.
Research Provisions in Broader Bills. In addition to S. 245, several bills
include climate change research provisions as part of a broader climate change
legislation. Specifically, research in S. 1151 and H.R. 759 would focus on abrupt
climate change research and new climate change measurement technologies.
Deployment of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technology
In the 109th Congress, several bills would promote the deployment and diffusion
of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, either as part of broader
legislation to limit greenhouse gases, or as stand-alone legislation. Deployment
strategies include tax incentives for investment in technologies to improve efficiency
and/or lower emissions and grants, loans, and other incentives for technology transfer
to developing countries. S. 1203 (Hagel) would establish tax incentives for
investment in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity. S. 745 (Byrd), S. 883
(Hagel), and S. 1151 (McCain) would establish grant and loan programs to deploy
technologies in developing countries that have been developed or demonstrated in
the United States. S. 887 (Hagel) would establish a credit-based deployment
program for technologies to reduce greenhouse gas intensity; support would include
direct loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, and production incentive payments. The
Senate version of H.R. 6 incorporates language from S. 883 and S. 887.
GHG Reporting and Registry Bills
Under the UNFCCC, the United States annually publishes reports on its GHG
emissions.5 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does this
reporting using various techniques (e.g., fuel analysis for CO ). The three dominant
2
sources of GHG emissions are electricity generation (33.1%), transportation (26.9%),
and industry (19%).6 At the national level, electric utilities must report their GHG
emissions pursuant to the 1990 Clean Air Act, but there is no overall national GHG
reporting requirement. However, some states also gather data through voluntary or
mandatory GHG emissions reporting mechanisms.7
4 This report does not include bills with other focuses that also had research components
related to climate change (particularly sequestration, renewable energy, and energy
efficiency).
5 For more information, see CRS Report 98-235 ENR, Global Climate Change: U.S.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions — Status, Trends, and Projections.
6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. GHG Emissions and Sinks 1990-2001, p.
ES-6. Additional sources are agriculture (7.6%), commerce (7.2%), and residential
activities (5.4%).
7 For more information, see Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Climate Change
Activities in the United States: 2004 Update, Arlington, VA, 2004.

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CRS-4
H.R. 955 (Olver) focuses primarily on expanding emissions reporting to include
a broad array of sources. All entities that emit more than 10,000 metric tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent must report their emissions, except that farms are exempt.
Further, manufacturers and importers of automobiles and Department of Energy-
listed products8 must report the emissions from their products. The purpose of the
bill is to promote greenhouse gas reductions and to generate accurate emissions data
that can be used by public and private entities for various purposes.
In addition to H.R. 955, which focuses solely on GHG reporting, several other
bills would require emissions monitoring and reporting as part of a program to reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide or of all greenhouse gases. These emissions reductions
efforts are discussed in the following section. S. 150 (Jeffords), S. 730 (Leahy), and
H.R. 1451 (Waxman) would require electricity producers to report their carbon
dioxide emissions in order to determine compliance with carbon dioxide caps. S.
1151 (McCain) and H.R. 759 (Gilchrest) would require major emitters of all six
greenhouse gases to report their emissions; the bills require reporting from entities
that emit more than 10,000 metric tons (11,000 tons) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
GHG Emission-Reduction Bills
The United States has no federal GHG reduction requirements, though there are
proposals to require such reductions. These proposals include “command and
control” regulations on emissions, GHG emission taxes, and market-based techniques
to limit emissions. The latter, market-based programs typically take as their model
the Clean Air Act’s acid rain program.9
In the 109th Congress, bills have been introduced that would establish market-
based GHG reduction programs. These bills are compared in Table 1. Two bills, S.
1151 (McCain) and H.R. 759 (Gilchrest), would cap the emissions of the six
greenhouse gases specified in the United Nations’ Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Three other bills, S. 150 (Jeffords), S. 730 (Leahy), and H.R. 1451
(Waxman), would focus on reducing carbon dioxide from electric utilities. Each of
these bills would use market-based trading mechanisms to limit GHG emissions.
Cap-and-trade programs set strict limits on specific emissions from a particular group
of sources, allowing individual sources to trade reductions. This flexibility in who
makes reductions can lead to lower costs. In an efficient market, entities that face
relatively low emission-reduction costs could achieve extra emission reductions.
These entities could then sell their unused allowances to entities that face higher
emission-reduction costs. An entity facing higher costs could purchase allowances
that would allow it to emit more than its initial emissions allotment would otherwise
permit. It should be noted that in all cases, total U.S. emissions may decrease or
8 Defined as any product for which the Department of Energy has promulgated final
regulations for energy efficiency, energy conservation, maximum energy use, or energy
consumption.
9 The acid rain program caps emissions from each source, but allows sources to exceed their
caps if they purchase credits from sources that achieve emissions reductions beyond those
required.

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CRS-5
increase depending on the entities covered, the greenhouse gases controlled, and the
emissions trading schemes.
Carbon Dioxide Reduction Bills. As shown in Table 1, S. 150, S. 730, and
H.R. 1451 focus on electric utility emissions. These “multi-pollutant” bills would
limit emissions of carbon dioxide, along with other air pollutants.10 (See Table 1.)
In all three cases, carbon dioxide emissions limitations would start in 2010.11
Comprehensive GHG Emissions Reductions. Unlike other bills
proposed in the 109th Congress, the Climate Stewardship Act of 2005 (H.R. 759) and
the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 (S. 1151) focus on achieving
market-driven reductions in all six greenhouse gases (see Table 1). The legislation
applies to entities in the electricity, transportation, industry, and commercial sectors
that emit over 10,000 metric tons (11,000 tons) of greenhouse gases per year.
Starting in 2010, the bills would cap total GHG emissions from all these sources at
6.5 billion tons (CO equivalent emissions), reduced by the amount of CO
2
2
(equivalent emissions) from non-covered entities in the year 2000. The bills would
also establish a formula for allocating GHG emissions allowances, and a climate
change credit corporation to manage allowance trading.
In addition to establishing caps on all six greenhouse gases, the bills would
support climate change research and establish a GHG emissions inventory (see
above). The bills also include a requirement that the Administrator of the EPA
establish a national GHG database, and develop methods and standards to measure
and verify GHG emissions.
10 S. 131 (Inhofe) and H.R. 227 (Sweeny) would also establish a cap-and-trade program for
nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and mercury from utilities. However, the bills do not
address carbon dioxide emissions.
11 For more information on multi-pollutant bills, see CRS Report RL32755, Air Quality:
Multi-Pollutant Legislation in the 109th Congress.

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CRS-6
Comparison of Emissions Reduction Bills
Table 1. Market-Based Greenhouse Gas Reduction Legislation
S. 150 (Jeffords)
S. 1151 (McCain)
S. 730 (Leahy)
H.R. 1451 (Waxman)
H.R. 759 (Gilchrest)
Covered sources
Any fossil fuel-fired
Any electric power, industrial, or
All electricity
Any fossil fuel-fired
electric generating facility
commercial entity that emits over
generating facilities in
electric generating
that has a capacity of
10,000 metric tons of CO
the United States.
facility that has a
2
greater than 15 megawatts,
equivalent/year; any refiner or
capacity of greater
generates electricity for
importer of petroleum products for
than 15 megawatts
sale, and emits a covered
transportation use that when
and generates
pollutant into the air.
combusted will emit over 10,000
electricity for sale.
metric tons of CO equivalent/year;
2
and, any importer or producer of
HFCs, PFCs or SF6 that, when used,
will emit over 10,000 metric tons of
CO equivalent/year.
2
Covered pollutants
One GHG: carbon dioxide;
All six GHGs.
One GHG: carbon
One GHG: carbon
other Pollutants: sulfur
dioxide; other
dioxide; other
dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
pollutants: sulfur
Pollutants: sulfur
and mercury.
dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, and mercury.
oxides, and mercury.
Emissions cap
Utility CO emissions
6.5 billion tons of CO equivalent per
Utility CO emissions
Utility CO emission
2
2
2
2
limited to 2.05 billion tons
year beginning in 2010 for all covered
limited to 2.05 billion
cap estimated at 1.94
per yeara beginning in 2010.
entities taken together.
tons per year
billion tons per year
beginning in 2010.
beginning in 2010.

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CRS-7
S. 150 (Jeffords)
S. 1151 (McCain)
S. 730 (Leahy)
H.R. 1451 (Waxman)
H.R. 759 (Gilchrest)
Implementation Strategy
Tradeable allowance
Tradeable allowance system. EPA is
Absolute caps on
To be determined by
system. Allowances
directed to determine allocations
mercury emissions, no
EPA — market
allocated to various sectors
based on several economic and equity
trading permitted
mechanisms permitted
and interests, including
criteria, including efficiency and
between facilities at
(except for mercury).
households, dislocated
impact on consumers. Allowances are
different sites.
workers and communities,
to be allocated upstream to refiners
Implementation
electricity-intensive
and importers of transportation fuel,
strategy for other
industries, affected utilities,
along with producers of HFCs, PFCs,
pollutants to be
energy efficiency and
and SF ; downstream to electric
determined by EPA.
6
renewable energy activities,
generation, industrial, and commercial
and sequestration activities.
entities.
Percentage change in CO
-7.5%
-5% -7.5%
-9.5%
2
emissions v. business as usual by
2010b
Percentage change inCO
+24.2%
+27.7%
+24.2%
+21.7
2
emissions v. 1990 levels
(UNFCCC baseline year)b
Penalties for noncompliance
Same as Clean Air Act, title
Excess emission penalty equal to three
To be determined by
To be determined by
IV except that the excess
times the market price for allowances
EPA.
EPA.
emission penalty is three
on the last day of the year at issue.
times the average market
price for allowances.
a S. 150 would further limit the number of emission allowances in a given year by the number of tons emitted two years prior by small electricity generating facilities, and by any number
required to protect the public health, welfare, or the environment.
b Source: CRS calculations based on projections contained in the UNFCCC Secretariat’s 2002 Climate Action Report. Available at [http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/
content/ResourceCenterPublicationsUSClimateActionReport.html]. For more information see CRS Report RL32755.

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CRS-8
Appendix 1. Climate Change Bills in the 109th Congress
Emissions
Caps and
Climate Change
Technology
GHG Reporting
Multi-
Bill(s) and Short Title(s)
Allowance
Research
Deployment
and Registry
Pollutant Bill Trading for all
GHGs
SENATE BILLS
H.R. 6 (Senate Version)
X
Energy Policy Act of 2005
S. 150 (Jeffords)
X
X
The Clean Power Act of 2005
S. 245 (Collins)
X
Abrupt Climate Change Research Act of 2005
S. 730 (Leahy)
X
X
Mercury Emission Act of 2005
S. 745 (Byrd)
X
International Clean Energy Deployment and Global Energy Markets
Investment Act of 2005
S. 883 (Hagel)
X
Climate Change Technology Deployment in Developing Countries Act
of 2005

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CRS-9
Emissions
Caps and
Climate Change
Technology
GHG Reporting
Multi-
Bill(s) and Short Title(s)
Allowance
Research
Deployment
and Registry
Pollutant Bill Trading for all
GHGs
S. 887 (Hagel)
X
Climate Change Technology Deployment and Infrastructure Credit Act
of 2005
S. 1151 (McCain)
X
X
X
X
Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005
S. 1203 (Hagel)
X
Climate Change Technology Tax Incentives Act of 2005
S. 342* (McCain)
X
X
X
Climate Stewardship Act of 2005
S. 386* (Hagel)
X
Climate Change Technology Deployment in Developing Countries Act
of 2005
S. 387* (Hagel)
X
Climate Change Technology Tax Incentives Act of 2005
S. 388* (Hagel)
X
X
Climate Change Technology Deployment and Infrastructure Credit Act
of 2005
* Superseded by newer version

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CRS-10
Emissions
Caps and
Climate Change
Technology
GHG Reporting
Multi-
Bill(s) and Short Title(s)
Allowance
Research
Deployment
and Registry
Pollutant Bill Trading for all
GHGs
HOUSE BILLS
H.R. 759 (Gilchrest)
X
X
X
Climate Stewardship Act of 2005
H.R. 955 (Olver)
X
National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Act of 2005
H.R. 1451 (Waxman)
X
X
Clean Smokestacks Act of 2005

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CRS-11
Appendix 2. Key Provisions of Climate Change Legislation in the 109th Congress
Bill No.
Sponsor
Major Actions
Key Provisions
SENATE BILLS
H.R. 6 (Senate
Barton
Introduced April 18, 2005; passed House
Establishes loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology for
Version)
April 21, 2005; passed Senate June 28,
greenhouse gas intensity reduction (similar language to S. 887);
2005.
requires the Secretary of State to provide assistance to
developing countries on projects to reduce greenhouse gas
intensity; establishes an export initiative for greenhouse gas
reduction technology (similar language to S. 883).
S. 150
Jeffords
Introduced January 25, 2005; referred to
Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the
Senate Environment and Public Works.
Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to
achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from certain
electric generation facilities by January 1, 2010.
S. 245
Collins
Introduced February 1, 2005; referred to
Establishes within the Department of Commerce a research
Senate Commerce, Science, and
program on abrupt climate change.
Transportation.
S. 730
Leahy
Introduced April 6, 2005; referred to
Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the
Senate Environment and Public Works.
Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to
achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from certain
electric generation facilities by January 1, 2010.

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CRS-12
Bill No.
Sponsor
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 745
Byrd
Introduced April 11, 2005; referred to
Establishes within the Department of State a program to assist
Senate Foreign Relations.
developing countries in the demonstration and deployment of
emission reduction technologies.
S. 883
Hagel
Introduced April 21, 2005; referred to
Requires the Secretary of State to provide assistance to
Senate Foreign Relations — see also
developing countries on projects to reduce greenhouse gas
H.R. 6 (Senate Version)
intensity; establishes an export initiative for greenhouse gas
reduction technology.
S. 887
Hagel
Introduced April 21, 2005; referred to
Establishes loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology for
Senate Energy and Natural Resources —
greenhouse gas intensity reduction.
see also H.R. 6 (Senate Version)
S. 1151
McCain
Introduced May 25, 2005; referred to
Requires any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of
Senate Environment and Public Works.
greenhouse gases (CO equivalent) to reduce emissions to year
2
2000 levels by 2010. Allows: tradeable credits for reductions
beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities,
increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in
other countries. Promotes innovation on mitigation technologies
and establishes incentives for technology deployment.
S. 1203
Hagel
Introduced June 8, 2005; referred to
Establishes tax credits for investment in technologies to reduce
Senate Finance.
greenhouse gas intensity; also provides tax incentives for nuclear
technologies.

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CRS-13
Bill No.
Sponsor
Major Actions
Key Provisions
S. 342*
McCain
Introduced February 10, 2005; referred
Requires any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of
to Senate Environment and Public
greenhouse gases (CO equivalent) to reduce emissions to year
2
Works.
2000 levels by 2010. Allows: tradeable credits for reductions
beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities,
increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in
other countries.
S. 386*
Hagel
Introduced February 15, 2005; referred
Requires the Secretary of State to provide assistance to
to Senate Foreign Relations.
developing countries on projects to reduce greenhouse gas
intensity; establishes an export initiative for greenhouse gas
reduction technology.
S. 387*
Hagel
Introduced February 15, 2005; referred
Establishes tax credits for investment in technologies to reduce
to Senate Finance.
greenhouse gas intensity; also provides tax incentives for clean
coal and nuclear technologies.
S. 388*
Hagel
Introduced February 15, 2005; referred
Establishes a loans, loan guarantees, etc. to deploy technology
to Senate Energy and Natural Resources.
for greenhouse gas intensity reduction; establishes a voluntary
national greenhouse gas registry.
*Superseded by newer version
HOUSE BILLS
H.R. 759
Gilchrest
Introduced February 10, 2005; referred
Requires any entity that emits more than 10,000 metric tons of
to House Science, and House Energy and
greenhouse gases (CO equivalent) to reduce emissions to year
2
Commerce.
2000 levels by 2010. Allows: tradeable credits for reductions
beyond those required, reductions from non-covered entities,
increases in carbon sequestration, and emissions reductions in
other countries.

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CRS-14
Bill No.
Sponsor
Major Actions
Key Provisions
H.R. 955
Olver
Introduced February 17, 2005; referred
Requires EPA to establish a GHG emissions information system
to House Energy and Commerce.
to collect information submitted regarding an entity’s GHG
emissions. Establishes mandatory registry for entities that emit
more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
H.R. 1451
Waxman
Introduced March 17, 2005; referred to
Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the
House Energy and Commerce.
Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to
achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide and mercury from certain
electric generation facilities by January 1, 2010.

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