INTRODUCTION

As of this writing (mid 2009), the United States does not yet have a national policy on emissions reductions. Until very recently it was the national champion emitter of greenhouse gases (China now has the title), a national policy was needed, none was forthcoming from Washington, and the states stepped into the breach. More than half of the states now have what are called Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). Some of the states' RPS are quite aggressive while others are mild. Some states already have significant fractions of their energy supply from emission-free sources, Maine, for example, with its large component of hydropower (45% of electricity in 2005). Regional collections of states have agreed on standards. What exists now is a patchwork of attempts to solve what is an international problem, and a national program is needed that places such a program in a world context. On the Federal stage, there has been a partisan divide, with the Democrats for action and the Republicans against. Among the states there was no such divide, and the regional compacts include states with Democratic and Republican governors. Emission reductions were never a partisan issue in the country, only in Washington.

The Congressional election of 2006 began to change the situation. New CAFE standards finally did become law in 2007, but there was no progress on broader greenhouse gas regulation. The election of 2008 changed things further, and greenhouse gas regulation is now on the front burner of the national stove.