Questions and answers about the US climate bill

Cap-and-trade? Offsets? Pollution credits? The climate bill passed Friday by the U.S. House of

Representatives tackles global warming with new limits on pollution and a market-based approach

to encourage more environmentally friendly business practices. But what exactly do the proposed

rules mean, and how would they work?

Some questions and answers about the bill, a top legislative priority for President Barack Obama:

Q: What's the purpose of this legislation?

A: To reduce the gases linked to global warming and to force sources for power to shift away

from fossil fuels, which when burned, release heat-trapping gases, and toward cleaner sources of

energy such as wind, solar and geothermal.

Q: How does the bill accomplish this?

A: By placing the first national limits on emissions of heat-trapping gases from major sources like

power plants, refineries and factories. This limit effectively puts a price on the pollution, raising

the cost for companies to continue to use fuels and electricity sources that contribute to global

warming. This gives them an incentive to seek cleaner alternatives.

source :

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCrlkWb6ccyqhj-6Iw-sY-2abzMAD992O

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