Cap-and-trade vote a benchmark for both parties

Southern Political Report: Cap-and-trade vote a benchmark for both parties

Tom Baxter reports that the cap-and-trade vote was "the most significant vote since the Recovery Act, and the most closely-fought legislative engagement of the young Obama Administration."

One objection – that the Southeast doesn’t have the windy open spaces necessary for windmills and solar installations – was heard frequently in the debate over the bill. But Suzanne Watson, policy director for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, said the Southern states do have a lot of something the bill allows them to capitalize on: wasted energy.

The bill requires large utilities to begin producing electricity with a higher percentage of renewable resources, gradually increasing to 20 percent of total production by 2020. The bill allows up to 5 percent to be achieved through increases in energy efficiency, but governors can petition for an addition 3 percent. Most of the Southern states currently rank near the bottom in energy efficiency.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Rep. Davis seeks ideas for gubernatorial platform, but legalizing pot won't fly

ARKANSAS: A look at possible GOP candidates for 2012...including Huckabee, Gingrich, and Barbour

FLORIDA: Residents to face new laws tomorrow, including set belt requirement

GEORGIA: State to overhaul social services, healthcare services

KENTUCKY: State has seven hazardous coal-ash storage sites

LOUISIANA: Gov. Jindal applauds $290 million for coastal restoration, hurricane protection

MISSISSIPPI: Research predicts Mississippi River Delta will drown by 2100

NORTH CAROLINA: House passes temporary spending bill

SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Sanford says he'll serve as best he can

TENNESSEE: Gov. Bredesen signs charter school bill

VIRGINIA: State considers regulating car title loans

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