Forbes has a nice piece by the Industrial Energy Consumers Association’s Paul Cicio detailing the impact of Lieberman-Warner were it, or its successor next Congress, enacted. Among the specifics worth paying attention to are those in the following excerpts:

Most U.S. manufacturers compete on a global basis, and will thus be acutely affected by further increases in natural gas prices. Natural gas prices are about 50% higher than a year ago. These elevated prices have already contributed to the loss of 3.3 million manufacturing jobs; that’s 19.2% of all manufacturing jobs since 2000. . . . In the end, the Warner-Lieberman bill could mark the final demise of the energy-intensive manufacturing industries that rely upon globally competitive energy to survive. . . . Because the emission-reduction timetable of the bill does not coincide with alternative low-carbon options for the power sector, natural gas and electricity prices will rise substantially above government forecasts and emission-reduction targets may be achieved at the expense of manufacturers who will send their jobs offshore — along with their carbon emissions — to be another country’s problem.

Whatever. Some politicians think they need to show they “did something.” Surely it makes sense to continue deferring instead to those rent-seeking companies like windmill and solar interests providing the business “cover” for Lieberman-Warner, instead?