Policy Statements
USCAP urges the enactment, during the 110th Congress, of legislation embodying the complete recommendations outlined in A Call for Action. USCAP also believes however, that Congress has opportunities in the coming months to advance important priorities embodied in A Call for Action independently of enacting a comprehensive climate policy.
In this section you’ll find a letter to Senators Bingaman (D-NM) and Domenici (R-NM) (PDF - 5 MB) about USCAP recommendations on two aspects of energy legislation in the Senate, along with policy papers on these subjects, which include recommendations on energy efficiency (PDF - 51 KB) and geologic carbon storage technologies (PDF - 54 KB). USCAP has also released a cost containment discussion paper (PDF - 208 KB).
Letter to Senators Bingaman (D-NM) and Domenici (R-NM) (PDF - 5 MB). This letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee outlines some of the positive elements regarding energy efficiency and geologic carbon storage contained in recent energy legislation introduced in the Senate. It also provides USCAP recommendations for additional measures to improve the legislation.
USCAP Energy Efficiency Recommendations (PDF - 51 KB). Improving energy efficiency in the US economy will prove critical to addressing climate change. This document provides more detail on USCAP recommendations to improve energy efficiency. It calls for extending previous energy efficiency provisions; outlines potential changes to codes and standards that affect everything from appliances to buildings; provides recommendations on tax policies to improve efficiency; calls for measuring and accounting protocols for energy reductions; and recommends that incentives for utilities are aligned to promote energy efficiency.
USCAP Geologic Carbon Storage Recommendations (PDF - 54 KB). USCAP believes carbon storage technologies hold great promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to meet the nation’s energy demands. This document builds upon A Call for Action by providing additional USCAP recommendations about five topics related to geologic CO2 storage, including: (1) Storage Regulations; (2) Storage Demonstration Projects; (3) Storage Capacity Assessment; (4) a Fund for Commercial-Scale Demonstration Projects; and (5) a Fund for Post-Closure Facility Management.
USCAP Cost Containment Discussion Paper (PDF - 208 KB). USCAP released the Cost Containment Discussion Paper to help inform congressional deliberations on this critically important topic.