Model Senate Speech

Greetings my name is Dr. Glenn. I am an expert in Climate Change from

the NRDC or National Resource Defense Council. I have 2 PHDs, one is from
UCSD, studying Oceanography and the other is from MIT in Climatology. Today I
will be addressing the bill 2-2016 Full Expansion of Cap and Trade in the Energy
and Public Works committee. The Vast Majority of the scientists in my field have
realized that the climate is changing at an unstable rate and something needs to
be done. Based off of my 20 years of expertise, this bill could be one of the many
solutions that this great nation needs. After my analysis of this bill, we need to
realize how much a ton of CO2 actually is, what types of alternative energies are
sustainable, and the disastrous effects of climate change on this world.
At our current day in age, climate change is the most urgent problem that
needs to be addressed and solved. Yes, you would be correct in saying there are
many other problems that face mankind, but you would be wrong to say any of
those problems affect the earth we live on just as much. Over the past 100 years
the global temperatures have risen .7 degrees Celsius, and are projected to
significantly rise if you look at graph 1. Since we have broken 1 degree in
temperature change, this will have a ripple effect on all environmental aspects.
Ocean currents are starting to change immensely, creating more super storms,
droughts that prevent the growth of crops, and bigger forest fires. If you look at
figure 1 it shows how much temperature changes will affect unique & threatened
systems, extreme weather events, large-scale singular events, and global
aggregate impacts. We face a detrimental problem that has even bigger
consequences.
So how much CO2 makes up 1 ton if not all 200 million that industries will
be able to pollute with this new cap set in place? 1 ton of CO2 is the equivalent
as running your car none stop for 38 hours. Another visual is a 747 flying for
roughly 2 minutes. Now with a cap of 200 million tons of Co2, discussed in
Section 1 emitted per company this can drastically drop how much industries are
emitting into the world. As you can see in graph number one, industries
produce 21% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S according to the EPA in
2014. That 21 percent converts to about 1,590.3 million ton of Co2. With as
many industries as there are in the United States I believe this cap may need to
be tighter to reduce the overall greenhouse gases emitted.
Pushing the Co2 cap down for industries will challenge how they produce
their products whether that is clothing, construction or power. Most companies
will move to green energy to profit on the tax incentives that are offered in
section 3. I believe that the list in section 3 subsection A-b illustrates what
energies need to be used and should be profited on. Green energy, although it
produces little to no co2 in its lifetime, does have a downside. The Capacity
factor for most green energy is fairly low. Capacity factor is the ratio of a power
plant's actual output over a period of time, to its potential energy output if it
never stopped producing power. For Example when the sun goes down solar
panels stop producing energy. That creates a low capacity factor. Since power in
the United States needs to be constantly abundant, it will never be able to run
solely off of energys produced by natural factors (I.e. solar, wind, geothermal,
hydroelectric, and et cetera). That is why I believe that nuclear power needs to
be recognized in section 3 subsection A-b for its consistent power output and a
capacity factor of 90.3 %.

Although this bill has its flaws, it will be making a leap in the direction of
saving this planet.
Without the ability to cooperate and work together on bills like Full Expansion of
Cap and Trade life on earth will eventually become unsuitable and impossible
for all life. I do fully support this bill and its intentions. With a few minor
adjustments I believe that everyone in the senate should back this bill today for
a brighter future tomorrow

Graph 1

Graph 2:

Figure 1

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
1

http://www.yousustain.com/footprint/howmuchco2?co2=1+ton