US Democrats lowers greenhouse gas emissions goal

• Source: The Global Times
• [15:18 May 15 2009]
• Comments

By Shi Jierui

Henry Waxman [Agencies]

According to Automotive News, the US House Democrats lowered its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions from 20 percent reduction to 17 percent by 2020 in a compromise to encourage the production of more electric and advanced-technology vehicles.

Henry Waxman, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman, said Thursday in a statement that the auto industry would get 3 percent of all free permits for their factories from 2012 to 2017, and 1 percent of such allowances after that through 2025.

US representative Democrat John D. Dingell from Michigan, said in a statement, "The agreement on allowance values will spur more innovation and new green-job creation here at home."

Heavy manufacturers, utilities, oil refineries and others would get the rest of the permits, Waxman said.