SUNUNU VOTES TO MOVE CLIMATE SECURITY ACT FORWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT: BARBARA RILEY

6/6/08                                                  202-224-2841

                                                        LIZ CHAMBERLAIN

                                                        603-439-9560

SUNUNU VOTES TO MOVE CLIMATE SECURITY ACT FORWARD

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (6/6) issued the following statement regarding his vote in support of moving the “Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act” forward for consideration. 

“It’s very disappointing that this debate never really got started, but when I said we should move forward I meant it. Unfortunately, Senators weren’t even allowed to offer amendments.

“Perhaps in the future, the bill I introduced with Senator Tom Carper can be a blueprint for compromise. It sets standards for mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide as well as carbon dioxide, and is significantly less expensive.”

“Moving forward, we should continue to focus on efforts that will reduce emissions, and lessen our dependence on Mideast oil. Conservation is essential: Congress has passed and I supported the first significant increase in fuel efficiency standards for cars in more than two decades.

“We should also expand incentives for renewable energy such as wind, solar, and high performance biomass. Given New Hampshire’s historic commitment to sustainable forestry, that’s good for our economy and good for the environment.”

BACKGROUND: Sununu is the lead Republican cosponsor to the Carper-Sununu “Clean Air Planning Act of 2007” (S. 1177), which was introduced on April 20, 2007.  The bill would address air quality and climate change by establishing a clear schedule to significantly reduce harmful emissions from power plants – in particular, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury – as well as decrease carbon dioxide emissions through a cap-and-trade system. Under the bill, mercury emissions would by reduced by 90 percent by 2015 in order to reduce the risks from this neurotoxin, especially to children and pregnant women.

Additionally, Sununu is a co-sponsor of the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act (S. 2821) -  bipartisan legislation that contains a series of renewable energy tax provisions - that extend energy production tax credits and incentives to improve the  energy efficiency of new and existing homes, businesses, and appliances. The initiative, which passed as an amendment to Senate housing legislation on April 10, would extend the current tax credits for renewable energy generated from solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, and trash combustion sources. A Sununu provision to provide a 10-percent tax credit for the purchase of energy efficient wood pellet stoves – an initiative he advocated in earlier legislation – is also included.