Much of the discussion surrounding Republican Scott Brown’s victory in the Massachusetts Senate race two weeks ago centered on the election’s impact on the proposed health care bill. Brown’s win means Democrats no longer have the 60 votes required to overcome a possible filibuster.
But the ripple effects go beyond health care, says Greg Burns, a columnist for the Chicago Tribune. In a recent column, Burns says Brown’s victory will force proponents of a cap-and-trade program to settle for less ambitious sustainability goals, such as a green jobs initiative and smaller energy-efficiency improvements.
While many commercial and institutional facilities continue to implement sustainability initiatives, cap and trade definitely has been on the backburner in terms of national headlines. With talk of stimulating job growth and the overall economy still dominating the news today, it is hard to imagine cap and trade becoming a white-hot topic again any time soon.
To frame his column, Burns talks to the chief executive of Exelon Corp., the nation’s largest nuclear power utility. Because nuclear power plants emit little carbon, Exelon would benefit from a cap-and-trade program. But the CEO seems resigned to the fact cap and trade is not going to happen any time soon.
Despite a lack of a cap-and-trade program, organizations remain focused on the impact their facilities can have on the environment. Whether or not managers want cap and trade, the reductions in energy use and utility costs from green projects are difficult to ignore. And regardless of what happens with cap and trade, environmental initiatives will continue to be a part of managers’ decision making when assessing overall building operations.
The biggest problem for Cap & Trade, HealthCare are the rest of the Obama agenda is: JOBS.
Unless the public loses their fear of the pink slip, they flat don't care about the Obama-Democrat agenda. No sane private business owner is going to hire knowing his heathcare and energy expenses may skyrocket at the whims of Congress.
Pursuing anything but a viable jobs creation plan is putting a knife to their throats. Right now the majority of America is ready to push-in and pull that knife.
Anything that looks like an additional expense or a jobs killer is DOA in the public mind.
Need Proof? So far Obama is 0 for three in helping elect Democrats in states he carried by wind margins in 2008.
If I was them, I'd wake up and smell the coffee.
Actually I really hope they don't.