The Energy Information Administration (EIA) today released its analysis of the National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP) report of last December, including impacts of the NCEP’s climate change policy recommendations.   Sen. Jeff Bingaman, senior Democrat on the Energy Committee and a champion for meaningful climate policy, asked EIA for the study.

Last December, the bipartisan NCEP released its recommendations on how to construct a forward-looking national energy policy.  The independent commission is comprised of 16 energy experts from industry, government, labor, academia, environmental and consumer groups.  Their recommendations were developed over two years and are based on more than 30 detailed analyses.

Sen. Bingaman applauded the Commission for providing fresh thinking on a number of important energy issues, especially climate change.  He took particular note of the NCEP’s recommendation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while explicitly limiting costs and economic impacts, and he asked the EIA to analyze the impacts of these policy recommendations.

Said  Bingaman: “This EIA report validates the widely-held view that it’s possible to have a meaningful program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without harming the U.S. economy.   The EIA’s non-partisan, independent analysis, together with the National Commission on Energy Policy report, will provide a beneficial contribution to the Senate dialogue on energy issues.”

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Bill Wicker

Democratic Communications Director

Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources

202.224.5243