Congress considers legislation to implement Bush's clear skies initiative. (Washington Alert).

Legislation laying out President Bush's "Clear Skies" plan for reducing emissions of major pollutants from power plants has now been introduced in both chambers of Congress.

The legislation, known as the "Clear Skies Act of 2002," fills in the 'details of a plan first presented by Bush on Feb. 14 to reduce power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury by 73%, 67% and 69%, respectively, by 2018. The reductions would be achieved through a market-based cap-and-trade system, which would allow power plants to trade a limited number of emissions credits within the cap.

This action reportedly maybe the first in a series of actions to reduce the level of these pollutants, with future actions more directly affecting all of manufacturing and foundries. In addition, increases in the cost of operations for power plants adversely affect foundries.

The House bill (H.R. 5266) was introduced July 26 by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tx), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. The Senate version of the same legislation (S. 2815) was introduced July 29 by Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH), the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Both approaches have received harsh criticism and it is likely that none of these bills will receive enough support to make it through Congress this year.

For copies of these bills or more details on Bush's Clear Skies Initiative, contact Amy Blankenbiller at the AFS Washington Office at 202/898-1444.