S. HRG. 100-923 NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1988 HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDREDTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON S. 2667 TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES AUGUST 11, SEPTEMBER 19 AND 20, 1988 Printed for the use of the 92-356 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1989 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES J. BENNETT JOHNSTON, Louisiana, Chairman DALE BUMPERS, Arkansas JAMES A. McCLURE, Idaho LOWELL P. WEICKER, JR., Connecticut DANIEL J. EVANS, Washington DARYL H. OWENS, Staff Director (II) Hearings: Albritton, Dr. Daniel L., Director, Aeronomy Laboratory, Environmental Re- search Laboratories, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fitzpatrick, Donna R., Associate Under Secretary, Department of Energy Watson, Dr. Robert T., Director, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Nation- al Aeronautics and Space Administration Wayland, Robert, III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Environmental Protection Agency. Wirth, Hon. Timothy E., U.S. Senator from Colorado.............................................. Dudek, Dr. Daniel J., senior economist, Environmental Defense Fund.... Marland, Dr. Gregg, staff scientist, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Moll, Gary, vice president, programs, American Forestry Association... Robertson, F. Dale, Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, accom- Murkowski, Hon. Frank H., U.S. Senator from Alaska. 352 271 NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY ACT OF 1988 AND GLOBAL WARMING THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 1988 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:04 p.m., in room SD366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Timothy E. Wirth, presiding. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. TIMOTHY E. WIRTH, U.S. Senator WIRTH. If the committee would come to order. The Senate at the moment is in the throes of trying to complete the defense appropriation bill. Senator Johnston and others are going to try to be here, and we hope that we can welcome them. But we want to welcome all of you and thank you for coming today. Little debate remains in the scientific community about the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have been steadily increasing since the advent of the industrial age. During the last 150 years, the level of CO2 in the atmosphere has risen from 280 parts per million to 350. Since 1958, concentrations have increased by about 40 parts in that short period of time alone. There is also no argument about the fact that certain stable levels of CO2 are what make this planet inhabitable. If there were no CO2 in the atmosphere, our planet might well be like Mars where temperatures are too cold to support life. Too much, as on Venus, would cause the oceans to boil away. Since passage of the National Climate Program Act 10 years ago, the Department of Energy has been conducting research in the area of atmospheric CO2. In its 1987 summary of this research effort, the Carbon Dioxide Research Division wrote on page 1, "the goal of this research program is the identification of possibly policy options for governmental action in response to changes in the atmospheric CO2 concentration." What has the Department found? What has DOE decided, and what are they recommending to us? Today's hearing is intended to review the response of the Federal Government to the evidence that has been accumulated for more than 15 years that the earth is warming at an alarming rate. Two weeks ago, with 17 of my colleagues, including the Chairman and a number of members of this committee, I introduced legislation to create an energy policy to address the issue of global warming. (1) |