West Virginians for Better Transportation

CAP-AND-TRADE PASSES U.S. HOUSE WITH RAZOR-THIN MARGIN

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the cap-and-trade bill -- HR 2454 -- by a razor-thin vote (219-212). West Virginia's three representatives – Alan Mollohan, Shelley Moore Capito and Nick Rahall – all voted against the proposal.

Policymakers have acknowledged that the "cap and trade" program in the bill would increase electricity costs with varying regional effects. A climate change cap and trade bill would significantly increase the cost of energy used in producing construction materials and powering construction equipment. The bill also includes provisions giving free reign to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate small stationary emitters and to implement standards for a variety of mobile sources used in construction — including new heavy duty trucks and off-road equipment.

For more information, see the CAWV Newsletter …

AGC RELEASES NEW STATE-BY-STATE ECONOMIC FACT SHEETS ~ SIMONSON TO SPEAK AT ANNUAL MEETING

AGC has posted new fact sheets about construction in every state at www.agc.org/factsheets, including an estimates of the impact that $1 billion in construction spending will have on each state's economy and the percentage change in construction employment from May 2008 to May 2009. The West Virginia fact sheet, which is attached to this week's Newsletter, notes that $1 billion in nonresidential construction stimulus investment in West Virginia would add about $2 billion to the state's GDP, about $580 million to personal earnings and create or sustain 21,000.

For more information see the CAWV Newsletter ...

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