Energy bill makes way to Senate

Congressman Steve Kagen touted the new energy bill, known as cap-and-trade, Thursday at Breakthrough Fuel in DePere.

"It's about three things," said Kagen. "It's about strengthening our national security, protecting our environment, and growing jobs right here in Northeast Wisconsin."

The bill, totaling about 1,400 pages, narrowly passed the house last week. It basically requires the US to reduce green house gas emissions by 17-percent by 2020, and about 80-percent by the end of the century. Because of that, Kagen believes 1.6 million jobs could be created to construct green energy technology.

"It provides over $190 billion of investments in developing new sources of energy that are less carbon dioxide producing," said Kagen.

Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce President Paul Jadin thinks the bill will have the opposite effect, costing companies jobs as they try to comply with stricter mandates.

"There will be heavier cost for business and that may mean reductions in staffing," said Jadin. "There will certainly be heavier costs for the consumer."

The EPA estimates the bill would cost an average household about $80-$110 more a year in energy.

"We have to do this," said Kagen. "In terms of the price we can't afford not to begin to end our ways of polluting our atmosphere."

"Costs will go up, and if it's just a cost for business, surely that will translate to a cost for consumers," said Jadin.

Despite the costs, both sides believe something has to get done to secure a cleaner and greener environment for the years to come.

The bill would also put tariffs on other county's imports that don't adopt our emissions standards by 2020. Opponents think that would only lead to a trade war. The bill now goes to the senate.