ConocoPhillips Speaks Out Against Obama’s Climate Bill
The recent passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) through the House of Representatives has sparked a number of debates. Opponents and proponents of the Waxman-Markley Bill have thrown words around, trying to gain support for their side.
House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio stated that, “By imposing a tax on every American who drives a car or flips on a light switch, this plan will drive up the prices for food, gasoline and electricity.” Meanwhile President Obama urged the passage of the bill in the Senate, saying that we can’t “believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow a contradiction between investing in clean energy and economic growth.”
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But it isn’t only politicians that are engaging in this war of words. ConocoPhillips company recently threw in their two cents, putting out a statement which, while supporting the prompt enactment of legislation which addresses the growth of greenhouse gases, doesn’t believe that the recently passed bill achieves the aims of balancing greenhouse gas emissions reduction with economic growth and national security needs.
While the company has many concerns with the provisions in the bill, the statement focused on the treatment of the transportation sector. Specifically they “support the equitable treatment of transportation fuel consumers relative to electricity and natural gas consumers, fair and adequate protection for U.S. refining as an energy-intensive, trade-exposed industry and full recognition of refinery complexity in the distribution of allowances among refineries.” They do not believe the Waxman-Markley Bill achieves these goals.
After stating their disagreement with the bill, they acknowledged that the bill has both positive and negative implications and they committed themselves to “evaluate the legislation in this light and will bring forward recommendations aimed at ensuring that U.S. energy and climate legislation takes full advantage of the environmental and energy security benefits of domestic natural gas production.”
More: How will the Waxman-Markley Bill affect you?
Photo Credit: Pete Zarria via flickr under Creative Commons License
