Senator Feinstein Introduces "Electric Utility Cap-and-Trade Act of 2007"

I recently wrote a letter to Senator Feinstein of California and here is her enlightening reply:

Dear Dr. Slaughter:

Thank you for writing to me to share your concerns about global warming. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue and welcome the opportunity to respond.

I understand and share your concerns about global warming. There is clear and convincing evidence that global warming is occurring. According to a report issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth's surface temperature rose about one degree Fahrenheit during the 20th century. This warming process has intensified in the past 20 years and has been accompanied by retreating glaciers, thinning arctic ice, rising sea levels, and the increasing likelihood of droughts and floods.

If global warming continues unabated, we face a number of potential environmental problems including severe disruptions in normal weather patterns, flooding in coastal communities, changes in global agricultural production, and the spread of tropical diseases. California would be hard-hit by these changes.

I believe it is past time for Congress to act to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb the impacts of climate change. As a result, I am a cosponsor of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 2 billion tons, or 25 percent, by the end of the decade and the Jeffords Clean Power Act that would reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and mercury emissions from power plants.

Not only do we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from the utility sector, it is also necessary to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. America's cars and light trucks are responsible for 33 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution. As a result, I have re-introduced the "Automobile Fuel Economy Act of 2005" (S. 889). This bill would phase in an increase in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for light duty trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) so that by 2011, light duty trucks and SUVs would meet the same CAFE standards as cars do today. Closing the "SUV loophole" will save 1 million barrels of oil a day, decrease foreign oil imports by 10 percent, and prevent 240 million tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year.

I believe that our nation needs to take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. As a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, please know that I will do everything possible to support the continued development of renewable sources of power such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass, in addition to promoting the most efficient use of our finite resources.

Again, thank you for writing to me. If you have any additional comments or questions, please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. staff at (202) 224-3841

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein

United States Senator

She expanded on this futher in this San Francisco Chronicle article:

"Trading away coal-fired power pollution"