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11th District Dems battle over cap-and-trade, global warming

The three candidates battling for the 11th Congressional District Democratic nomination clashed on environmental policy Thursday night as cap-and-trade became a campaign issue.

Juan Thomas told an audience of fellow Democrats in Aurora he would’ve supported President Barack Obama’s so-called cap-and-trade plan, a distinct difference from one of his opponents, Bill Foster.

The cap-and-trade plan was pitched by Obama as a way to cap emissions on greenhouse gases by progressively decreasing the amount of emissions allowed during the next 40 years. In trade, Obama’s plan called for raising billions of dollars of revenue by auctioning the rights to emit greenhouse gases. Over time, the number of auctioned rights would also be reduced. The plan passed the House but never made it through the Senate.

“The president’s clean energy pact would’ve helped deal with some of these (environmental concerns),” Thomas said. “That bill did not go as far as it could’ve gone, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

The cap-and-trade plan was a controversial piece of legislation that some critics said would create a trade war with China and impose unrealistic standards and costs on U.S. businesses. The plan also renewed heated debate about whether global warming caused by man-made pollution is real.

Foster said Thursday global warming is both real and a threat to the world, but he voted against cap-and-trade while serving as the congressman in the 14th District. Obama’s bill contained too many scientific and technical flaws as well as “business nonsense” for Foster to support it, he said.

“We need to respond to (global warming) in a way that does the least damage to our economy,” Foster said. He favors finding and implementing environmental policy that pays for itself in terms of ultimate benefits, including simple measures like retiring old trucks in favor of more fuel-efficient models.

Jim Hickey didn’t take a position on cap-and-trade in his response but said he believes increasing energy efficiency in local schools and by updating government buildings is a major part of his plan to create jobs. Hickey said he’s in favor of expanding the use of high-speed rail, biomass fuels and solar and wind energy as important parts of growing America’s economy.

“We need to take a stand ... and do what’s right,” Hickey said. “These measures will put millions of people back to work in good-paying union jobs.”

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