Get beyond global warming talk in Senate

Get beyond global warming talk in Senate
All it may amount to in the end is hot air, but the Senate still needs to engage seriously this week in its discussion of how this country can best counter global warming. At the very least, the Senate can set the stage for a needed presidential debate on the issue this fall.


If by some chance a global warming bill makes it all the way through Congress, President George W. Bush is likely to veto it. Nonetheless, Congress should explore the subject fully -- and the three senators still in the running as presidential candidates can take the opportunity to refine their positions.

Equally important, as the Senate and the candidates discuss the Lieberman-Warner bill, Americans can begin to wrestle with what the proposed solutions mean to them.

The chief mechanism to control warming gases would be a cap and trade system, which has already been tested and worked well to control the emissions that cause acid rain. But costs can vary widely, depending on how initial emissions credits are issued.

A federal auction of credits would raise the cost of electricity but simultaneously bring in money that can boost research, spur efficiency in homes and places like cities that otherwise cannot afford it, and cushion the blow of rising energy costs for many consumers. Handing out permits would keep the initial cost of energy lower and rely more on the marketplace to find solutions.

Michigan has a big stake, because it relies on coal for most of its power generation, as do many other states in this part of the country. Coal puts out more C0{-2} than other fuels, so any system will hit harder in coal-reliant areas. Congress must take special care not to disproportionately handicap Midwestern states that already are reeling from loss of manufacturing jobs.

Lawmakers must also ensure that any plan does not inadvertently increase the power companies' demand for other fuels, such as natural gas, because that would push home heating costs even higher.

Global warming deniers will continue to attack even the mildest efforts to cut back on fossil fuel use. But the risks involved in doing nothing -- including far lower levels in the Great Lakes -- have grown too great to ignore. And the talent that could be put toward innovative solutions has been sitting idle for too long.
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