Tennessee Delegation Weighs in on Climate Change Measure

Congress is gearing up to debate a sweeping clean energy bill.

One member of the state’s delegation hasn’t yet decided how he’ll vote.

Pall Mall Democrat Lincoln Davis says he wants to make sure the bill has a focus he can agree with.

“Does it address economic security for America, and does it address national security for America? If it’s just for climate change-and I need to do something about that-but if it’s only for that purpose, then I think we lose.”

The measure would create a cap and trade system for pollution generated by power plants. It also requires utilities get a portion of their electricity from renewable sources.

The proposal doesn’t label all hydroelectric power as renewable. Dams have been a key power source for the Tennessee River valley since the New Deal. Only generating capacity added since 1992 will count. That’s the last time regulations for dams were revised. Even so, Murfreesboro Democrat Bart Gordon says at least a portion of the energy produced at area dams will be included.

“It’s not only building the dams, but it’s also improving them, and so that picked up most of the improvements that were made to the dams in our TVA area.”

Congress is under pressure to pass the measure before December. That’s when the US and nearly 200 other countries are scheduled to hash out a new global climate treaty.