Halvorson: You have to be careful with carbon emissions legislation

NORMAL -- U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson told people at a clean-energy conference Saturday in Normal that while she supports the “cap and trade” idea for limiting carbon emissions, she’s not willing to back current legislation at any cost.

“This is going to be a challenge. It’s not one size fits all,” said Halvorson, a Crete Democrat who represents the 11th Congressional District.

Limiting the emission of carbon-based greenhouse gases is necessary, but she doesn’t want to rush into passing a bill that may be flawed, she said. How carbon producers would trade credits to allow some to exceed their caps concerns her, she said.

“Oh, no way, we’re going to do this the right way,” she said, noting she wants to be sure corporate loopholes are avoided. “I’m worried about the regulation of these credits.”

National security, avoiding uncertainty in the market and creating “green” jobs also are priorities, she said.

Formally known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act, HR 2454, the measure is described as a bill to create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence and reduce global warming pollution while transitioning to a clean energy economy.

Halvorson said the 1,000-page bill left committee about a week ago, but with more than 100 amendments attached. For that reason, she’s still reading the bill, and hasn’t announced whether she’ll support it or not, she said.

She was among roughly 50 people attending a town hall forum on the clean energy economy Saturday at Heartland Community College, Normal. The event was sponsored by the nonprofit group Focus on the Nation.

Other clean energy panelists included local political, business and labor leaders, as well as educators — all with ties to developing clean energy.

Scott Duncombe of Focus the Nation said his group hosted more than 100 similar meetings this year. Duncombe said clean energy legislation should not simply be an opportunity to avert disaster and reduce Americans’ energy consumption and carbon production.

“(It’s) also about creating green jobs,” he said.

Other panelists discussed area education and apprentice programs, focusing on creating a skilled labor force to build clean-energy systems. But they said the challenge is attracting companies to come to Illinois with clean-energy work — building and operating wind turbines and assembling solar panels, for example — so these clean-energy workers will have jobs.

Peace Meal program

Earlier Saturday, Halvorson met with the East Illinois Area Agency on Aging to discuss issues affecting older people. That roundtable included seniors, caregivers and representatives of community programs.

In conjunction with that roundtable, Halvorson announced a $137,960 federal grant to the Peace Meal Senior Nutrition Program.