Levin: Climate bill must take go-slow approach with factories, block state tailpipe rules

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) has provided Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) a wish list of items for climate change legislation that includes a lengthy delay before greenhouse gas limits are imposed on industrial facilities.

Levin is a pivotal voice on climate policy. His state includes Detroit automakers and other manufacturing interests that fear the costs of climate legislation and its effects on their competitiveness.

In a March 5 letter to Kerry – who is playing a leading role in Senate climate negotiations –  Levin calls for a delay of at least 10 years before industrial plants face regulations. Levin argues that a further delay should be provided “if important trade provisions to assure a level playing field are not included and fully implemented.”

Levin also argues for a national standard for emissions from cars and trucks that would prevent states from adopting different rules.

California – and about a dozen other states that follow its lead on emissions rules – are deferring to an upcoming national auto emissions and mileage standard that covers model years 2012-2016.

But Levin wants a long-term national emissions standard that preempts state efforts in order to avoid a patchwork of requirements for the industry.

Levin’s other goals include a "realistic and firm" price collar, or set of boundaries on the price of carbon emissions, which he said is needed to prevent excessive costs and ensure “certainty” for business investments.