New Developments In The United States

On March 31, 2009, U.S. House Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released their discussion draft, "American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009" (ACES). This is a far-reaching bill containing a framework for a proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade system, as well as initiatives on clean energy and energy efficiency. ACES will be considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee through May 25, 2009, after which it will be introduced to the full House of Representatives. Although ACES is an early step, it marks the much-anticipated beginning of a new round of congressional debate on the future of the U.S. response to climate change.