Businesses want a say in global-warming bill

Posted on Mon, Jan. 21, 2008

Businesses want a say in global-warming bill

Renee Schoof | McClatchy Newspapers
last updated: January 17, 2008 08:16:29 PM

WASHINGTON — U.S. businesses are betting that the federal government soon will put mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions, and they're making sure they have a say in shaping a vast new regulatory system.

Some of the country's biggest businesses support a cap and trade system, the approach that Congress is considering. Under cap and trade, the government gives or sells companies allowances to emit certain amounts of greenhouse gases, and companies may sell unused allowances to other companies.

While it may sound simple, the details would be complex and the plan would affect the entire economy and require monitoring for decades.