Build Back Better Act’s Benefits Disputed by House Environmentalists

December 9, 2021 by Tom Ramstack
Build Back Better Act’s Benefits Disputed by House Environmentalists
Rep. Kathy Castor, of Florida, chair of the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis. (Photo by Dan McCue)

WASHINGTON — With little doubt some version of the Build Back Better Act will win final approval within days, on Thursday a congressional panel discussed how to get the greatest environmental benefit from it.

Democrats said that after the infrastructure for more renewable energy is installed, the plan would reduce energy costs, create jobs and cut greenhouse gas emissions significantly.

Republicans called the plan unrealistic, saying it would bring steeper taxes for consumers and higher expenses for businesses.

Much of the discussion during the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis hearing swung back and forth between supporters saying it is a wise investment but critics saying it isn’t.

“We will lower prices for families and businesses alike,” said Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., chairwoman of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

She said the now $2.2 trillion bill to address global warming and social policy issues would “unleash incredible economic benefits.”

The House approved the bill by seven votes on Nov. 19. Senate leaders say they expect to vote next week on the bill.

A trimmed down version of it has enough commitments from senators to pass by a narrow margin. President Joe Biden proposed it early this year as a $3.5 trillion plan.

Castor mentioned the example of electric vehicles as a benefit. The Biden administration wants to install a half-million charging stations nationwide to convert electric vehicles from a luxury to a practical means of transportation.

She said electric vehicle owners would save more than $10,000 over the life of an automobile compared with gasoline-powered cars because of cheaper costs of electricity.

In addition, when the cost of electrical generation is included, electric vehicles produce about one-third of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide compared with combustion engine automobiles.

Energy and climate change provisions make up $555 billion of the spending in the revised Build Back Better Act. Most of it would consist of converting to renewable energy, such as from solar panels, wind generators and electric vehicles.

The plan calls for slowly phasing out coal, natural gas and oil as energy sources, which drew criticism from Republicans at the House hearing.

“These policies don’t make sense, they don’t add up,” said Rep. Garret Graves, R-La. “All it’s doing is exporting jobs and increasing the price of energy.”

He described the Build Back Better Act as an unworkable government intervention on business and the economy.

“The same bill increases the regulatory burden,” he said.

Uday Varadarajan, a Stanford University professor and renewable energy advocate, disputed whether the coal, gas and oil industries offer better energy options for consumers.

This winter, “More than half of American households could see energy costs rise 30% or more,” Varadarajan said. Most of the homes are heated by natural gas.

Solar arrays in Arizona and wind generators in wind-swept parts of the Midwest make the alternative energy systems more practical in the United States than nearly anywhere else in the world, he said.

“The Build Back Better Act’s going to pay for itself, ultimately,” he said.

Provisions of Biden’s plan would raise revenue to pay for it through tougher Internal Revenue Service enforcement, a 15% minimum tax on foreign corporate profits, closing a Medicare tax loophole benefiting the wealthy and an adjusted gross income surcharge for the nation’s highest income earners.

The bigger government role envisioned in the plan for private citizens and businesses drew resentment from Alex Herrgott, president of the Permitting Institute. His trade association advocates for reducing burdens of the infrastructure permitting process.

“To build back better, we must first be able to build,” he said.

Extensive and sometimes contradictory regulations, followed by delays in winning permits, mean infrastructure improvements under Biden’s plan could be difficult and expensive, he said. Regulations add 20% to 30% to the cost of projects.

“These costs are ultimately passed on to the public in terms of higher taxes and energy bills,” Herrgott said.

Some of the business disputes are likely to result in lawsuits, where judges rather than project managers could influence how infrastructure is built, he said.

“We’re going to have courts making science-based decisions,” Herrgott said.

Tom can be reached at [email protected]

A+
a-
  • Build Back Better
  • Environmentalists
  • Kathy Caster
  • White House
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Political News

    March 28, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Vice President Harris Rolls Out First Government-Wide Policy to Mitigate AI Risks

    WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday rolled out the Biden administration’s first government-wide policy intended to mitigate the... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday rolled out the Biden administration’s first government-wide policy intended to mitigate the risks associated with artificial intelligence while still enabling its use to advance the public interest. The new policy, which is being issued through the White House... Read More

    March 27, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    New Dem Chair Kuster Announces Retirement Following 2024 Election

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition... Read More

    CONCORD, N.H. — Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., who, among other things, is the current chair of the New Democrat Coalition in the House, revealed Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to Congress this year. In a lengthy statement released by her office, Kuster gives no... Read More

    March 25, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    CPAC Releases Ranking of Most Conservative Members of Congress

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Conservative Political Action Conference, also known as CPAC, on Monday released its annual ranking of members of the House and Senate based on their conservative bona fides or lack thereof. To produce this year’s scorecard, the CPAC foundation’s Center for Legislative Accountability analyzed... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    After a Decade on Capitol Hill, Brad Howard Steps Out on His Own

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.,... Read More

    WASHINGTON — After a decade on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff for former Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., and communications director of the Blue Dog Coalition, Brad Howard knew it was time for change. “It was time to move into the private sector,” he... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Greene Files Motion to Vacate Speaker’s Chair

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed... Read More

    WASHINGTON — For the second time in five months, a member of the Republican Conference in the House has filed a motion to vacate the chair of the party’s speaker. But this time, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., says the motion is intended merely as a... Read More

    March 22, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    Gallagher to Leave Congress April 19

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who already announced he would not seek reelection, surprised many on Capitol Hill on Friday by announcing he plans to leave April 19, several months before his current term is up. Gallagher’s impending departure will further shrink the razor-thin Republican... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top