33-25 Vote along party lines

The government will put a price on carbon for the first time and portending a major shift in how the country uses energy. The U.S. proposal — which aims to cut emissions roughly 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and roughly 80 percent by mid century — won approval from the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a vote of 33-25 that fell largely along partisan lines

Why it matters: HR 2454 is a cap and trade bill meaning that utility companies will have to buy carbon credits to offset the damage done to the environment due to carbon released in the atmosphere.  NCEMPA gets it energy from 3 coal-fired plants.  These plants will have to buy carbon credits and pass the cost onto the customers.  In the long run, we could be paying as much as 35-50% more for electricity in the coming years.

Energy Markup: Morning Session Energy Markup: Afternoon Session Energy Markup: Evening Session & Final Vote