Testimonies for EPW stress cap and trade costs and benefits

Testimonies for the Climate and Energy Protection Act ranged from environmental expert, Bjorn Lomborg, to power plant worker, Jeremiah O'Malley.

While witnesses differed on their views of global warming and carbon emissions, all seemed willing to agree that the status quo concerning energy emissions policy insufficiently addresses the problem.

Lomborg, a Swedish professor and environmental analyst, argued against a cap and trade system, claiming the results would be disastrous for the energy companies and American citizens as a whole.

Others were not as opposed to the proposed system, such as Chris Brigham of Southern California Edison, who supported a modified cap and trade system.

"A carbon tax will cripple the industry…and we will have to forward these expenses on the customers, said Brigham. "The electricity industry…is willing to support a fair and well designed cap and trade system…that has adequate lead time for implementation."

Cost analysis was not the only topic discussed during testimonies as witness Jeremiah O'Malley commented on the devastating effects of emphysema. O'Malley believes he developed the disease from working at his town's power plant for 26 years. O'Malley's father, who died of emphysema, also worked for the power plant.