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Can Congress tackle global warming during a recession?

anna.shoup

Posted: 10.02.2009 / 8:30 AM PDT

On Wednesday, something happened on Capitol Hill that drew little fanfare outside the Beltway: Senate Democrats proposed climate-change legislation to limit greenhouse-gas emissions and create a market for pollution permits.

There were no high-profile town-hall meetings, such as those for healthcare, or marches on the capital – although these have happened in the past.

This isn’t the first time climate change has come up this summer in Congress. In June, the House narrowly passed a bill to cut emissions. But even with that passage, climate-change legislation still faces an uphill battle. Both the House and Senate versions of the bill contain controversial provisions – provisions sure to spark much debate before any final votes take place.

What do residents of Patchwork Nation think about these legislative developments? A sampling of communities from New England to the Magic Valley in Idaho reveals that some people are frustrated with the pace of energy reform. But for others, this just isn’t a priority right now.

During a recession that has people looking for ways to make it through the month, investments that could lead to savings down the road aren’t first on many minds.

“So, why aren’t more people driving hybrid cars, updating their homes’ energy effectiveness or replacing their light bulbs?” asks Sandy Belknap in a Patchwork Nation blog post. “It’s all about the money. When it comes to climate control, there is almost always [a cost in saving].”

Ms. Belknap lives in Nashua, N.H., a “Monied ‘Burb” community. The median household income in the “Monied ‘Burbs” is $15,000 above the national county average. Over the past few years, Belknap has been able to make some changes to reduce her energy consumption, including buying a hybrid sedan. But, she says, some of her friends can’t afford the higher initial costs that come with something like a hybrid.

In other places, like Hampton Roads, Va., a “Military Bastion,” climate change is working its way into the local discussion. Next week, former Sen. John Warner (R) of Virginia will host a forum on the potential threats to Hampton Roads and to the armed forces who serve there if global warming leads to security challenges around the world.

Erin Ryan, an associate professor of law at William & Mary in the Hampton Roads region, is pushing for more action on the climate-change front. She’s challenged Congress to create jobs by investing in a “Green Deal” that will boost alternative energy.

“Don’t forsake this singular opportunity to turn crisis into creativity when it is most needed. Make energy infrastructure the engine for economic recovery, and we’ll end up in a place far better than we started,” Professor Ryan wrote in a blog appearing on SmartRegion.org.

But in Twin Falls, Idaho, a “Mormon Outpost,” climate change isn’t a big topic, says resident Terry McCurdy, owner of Magic Valley Business Systems, a copier dealership.

“They are more interested in the critical issues now facing us, including healthcare reform, disasters, and the economy. There is virtually nothing we can do about climate change. Legislation can dictate certain things, but it is a long-term challenge, one that is not at the forefront of our minds [right now],” Mr. McCurdy writes in an e-mail.

And in St. Louis, a big-city “Industrial Metropolis,” at least one 20-something is reminding people to follow through on enthusiasm for President Obama’s energy platform.

“We need to remind them not only do we elect people to office, but we need to hold the president and Congress accountable,” Brett Wiley told the St. Louis Beacon, an online publication.

But with many people focused on their thin wallets, politicians might not get much of a nudge. And without a boost of support from the American public, Congress may have a tough time pushing through a major climate-change bill.