GHG Emission Reporting Proposals from the 109th Congress
S. Amdt. 815: Energy and Climate Change Act, which would provide for voluntary reporting of GHG emissions and reductions. If after 4 years, 60% of U.S. GHG emissions were not being reported voluntarily, reporting would become mandatory for the largest emitters. The bill would also establish a nation climate vulnerability and adaptation program at the Department of Commerce, a forest carbon sequestration program and an agricultural carbon sequestration measurement program at USDA, and a climate science program at DOE. Sponsor: Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) – Action: 6/21/05: Filed, but not offered as an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
H.R. 955: National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Act, which would require large GHG emitters to report and disclose their emissions. Entities could also register their GHG reductions. Sponsor: Rep. John Olver (D-MA) (2 cosponsors)
Proposed House Amendment (Gilchrest #42): Climate Change Strategy and GHG Database, which would establish a National GHG Registry and allow entities to report voluntarily their GHG emissions and emission reductions to the registry. If, five years after enactment, less than 60% of U.S. anthropogenic GHG emissions had been reported voluntarily, reporting would be required of large GHG emitters. The amendment also would encourage future Congresses to consider registered reductions as applicable towards future GHG reduction requirements. The amendment would also establish a National Climate Change Strategy with the goal of stabilization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system; an Office of National Climate Change Policy within the White House; and a research and development program toward the goal of stabilization of GHG concentrations. (Identical to the provisions authored by Senators Brownback (R-KS), Corzine (D-NJ), Byrd (D-WV) and Stevens (R-AK), which were passed by the Senate and included in the Senate-passed Energy Policy Acts in 2002 and 2003.)
Sponsor: Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) (4 cosponsors) – Action: 4/19/05: The sponsor requested the opportunity to offer the provision as an amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (H.R.6) during debate by the House, but was denied the opportunity by the House Rules Committee.