Sen. Gregg says global warming legislation deserves consideration

CONCORD, N.H. --Republican Sen. Judd Gregg says a new Senate bill to combat global warming "deserves serious consideration," even though one of the bill's sponsors says it goes beyond President Bush's proposals on global warming.

Leading environmentalists in New Hampshire also support the legislation, which has bipartisan support in Congress. Sens. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and John Warner, R-Va., introduced the bill this week.

Supporters say it would reduce greenhouse gases from the largest sources by 15 percent by 2020 and 75 percent by 2050. The bill would establish a greenhouse gas emissions cap that covers electric utilities, manufacturing sources and transportation. It also contains provisions for energy efficiency standards for appliances and buildings. Fully implemented, supporters say the bill has the potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than half by mid-century.

While not fully signing on to the plan, Gregg noted that he has supported other legislation that would establish a market-based, cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, similar to the system proposed in the "America's Climate Security Act of 2007," Lieberman and Warner's bill.

"America's Climate Security Act of 2007 deserves serious consideration, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues on passing climate change legislation during this Congress," Gregg said in a statement.

"It is critical that we work together in a bipartisan manner and adopt climate change legislation that will ensure that future generations don't suffer the harmful consequences of global warming," he said.

Bush has opposed mandatory limits on greenhouse gases, saying such regulations would stifle economic growth. But Warner said voluntary actions will not achieve the necessary goals.

Besides Warner, Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Susan Collins of Maine are co-sponsors, as is Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa.

The legislation's broad supports marks a shift in Congress, said Jan Pendlebury, director of the state chapter of the National Environmental Trust.

"It shows Congress is serious about enacting global warming legislation," Pendlebury said. "New Hampshire Senators Gregg and Sununu should do their part. The first step is to finish the energy bill and the next step is to pass comprehensive climate legislation like that introduced (Thursday)," she said.

Sen. Sununu's office did not respond immediately to requests for comment on the legislation.