U.S. House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and authors of the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill have reached an agreement that would allow farmers and ranchers to participate in a market-based carbon offset program. According to Peterson, the agreement also addresses concerns about indirect land-use provisions that target U.S. crop producers and exempts agriculture from the definition of a capped sector.
Strong opposition was expressed during a House Ag Committee hearing on the bill earlier this month. The criticism came from both sides of the aisle, with Peterson leading the way. Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran said it was necessary to amend the bill due to agriculture’s “nearly unanimous opposition to this legislation.” Of the eight groups testifying on the Waxman-Markey bill during the ag hearing, all were opposed to the legislation unless significant changes were made to minimize the harmful impact on agriculture.
Under the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, energy costs are expected to increase for utility companies, transportation, production agriculture and, ultimately, consumers. Details of the agriculture agreement are not yet available.
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