The Climate Bill Will Continue to Be Watered Down

When the original draft of the The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), was introduced on March 31st, it was considered good, though far from perfect, by most progressive climate change analysts and organizations. Climate Progress gave the bill a B+ (whatever that means). Greenpeace wrote that the bill was a first good step, must that it must be strengthened. The Sierra Club called it a "strong start." Friends of the Earth issued a more mixed reaction.

Last week, as part of a pre-markup deal, the already imperfect ACES was watered down a bit more. In response, Climate Progress lowered its grade, and several environmental groups issued an angry joint statement. The Sierra Club has vowed to "strengthen" the bill. Dave Roberts hoped that it can be strengthened in the Senate.

However, in all likelihood, the ACES will never be strengthened beyond its current form. All of the progressive climate change groups listed above would do extremely well just if the bill did not get any worse. This is because there are several more hurdles for the bill to leap, which I attempt to describe in detail in the extended entry.