Some Republican should have slipped in some of their own, such as restricting Congressional Believers in anthropogenic climate change from using government fossil fueled vehicles, flying on government fossil fueled planes, and no reimbursements for fossil fuels used for their official business
Climate Change Legislation Included in Coronavirus Relief Deal
Congressional negotiators inserted a bipartisan measure to curtail planet-warming chemicals used in air-conditioners and refrigerators in the huge government spending and coronavirus relief package that is expected to head to President Trump’s desk on Monday.
The legislation would be the first significant climate change law to pass Congress since at least 2009.
Also riding on the larger package is a separate bill to promote renewable energy by directing about $35 billion in existing government spending toward the development of wind, solar and other clean energy sources over the next five years.
Both bills are backed by some of the Senate’s most powerful Republicans, creating a rare party rebuke to President Trump on the issue of global warming, after he has spent the past four years mocking and systematically rolling back every major climate change rule.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, called the bill to reduce planet-warming chemicals “the single biggest victory in the fight against climate change to pass this body in a decade.â€
First, there’s no proof that Republicans are even aware of these measures. Second, Chuck had his chance in 2009, but, instead decided to do Obamacare. Third, there really are no good alternatives to the refrigerants (mostly HFCs are used now) used in refrigerators and AC units at this time. Most are experimental, and very expensive, up to 10 times the cost. So, that should seriously jack up the price of AC units and fridges. And the new refrigerants can also be dangerous. And, it would also mess with chemicals used in other products, like fire extinguishers.
Now, if they want to use the $35 billion for R&D, I’m good with that. It would have been much better for all that money in Obama’s Stimulus to be used for R&D rather than actual construction. Would have been nicer to use that $35 billion for citizens and small businesses, though.
Oh, and when does the NY Times replace all their AC units and refrigerators to be compliant?
