"Coming from America's vital manufacturing states, these Senators understand how critical it is for any comprehensive climate legislation to address key issues essential to maintaining a strong US industrial base. The manufacturing states Senators appropriately recognize the importance of providing a full allocation of allowances to energy-intensive, trade-exposed manufacturers for both direct emissions costs and to offset the expected increases in energy costs that manufacturers will face," Gibson expressed. "We also support the manufacturing states Senators' statement that effective national climate legislation must prevail over inconsistent State laws and initiatives and should supersede existing federal law and avoid overlapping regulation of greenhouse gases.
"It is also essential that legislation include an automatically triggered border adjustment measure for imports from all countries that do not have in place comparable GHG emissions regulations. This letter from the manufacturing states Senators rightly highlights this important measure that will promote comparable action from developing countries and prevent carbon leakage. Finally, we appreciate the letter's support for a robust federal research and development effort into breakthrough technologies for key manufacturing sectors.
"This effort truly demonstrates the Senators' understanding of the challenges that the manufacturing industry faces in the context of proposed climate legislation."