Today, the unveiling of an energy and climate bill in Washington was bittersweet to environmental groups in South Carolina. State and national environmental groups wished that Senator Lindsey Graham was there today when Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) introduced their energy and climate proposal. Graham has backed away because of strategic political struggles with the White House and concern over the oil spill in the Gulf.
The National Wildlife Federation and a long list of environmental interests are still hopeful, according to the SC Wildlife Federation’s Steve Moore.
(Listen to interview with SCWF’s Steve Moore on unveiling of the American Power Act MP3)Listen to interview with SCWF’s Steve Moore on unveiling of the American Power Act MP3
Graham issued a statement today in support of his colleagues’ efforts. He says he looks forward to reviewing their proposal. He says, “The problems created by the historic oil spill in the Gulf, along with the uncertainty of immigration politics, have made it extremely difficult for transformational legislation in the area of energy and climate to garner bipartisan support at this time.”
Without Graham, Lieberman and Kerry released what is called a discussion draft of the bill, now being called The American Power Act.
In a joint statement, conservation groups are asking that the bill makes it up for debate in the Senate. A cap and trade version of a climate bill passed the U-S House. Graham says that one is dead.
