The EPA and the Energy Information Administration published analyses of Senators Specter (R-PA) and Bingaman's (D-NM) proposed Low Carbon Economy Act of 2007, saying any impact on economic growth and prices would be modest.

But, according to attorney and blogger Shari Shapiro, "What the bill and the analysis by the EPA and EIA fail to take into consideration is that the reliance of the Low Carbon Economy Act on carbon recapture and nuclear power has the potential to cause vast unintended consequences for the environment and for the economy. For example, a nuclear plant meltdown would have untold environmental cost and economic cost. Carbon capture technology can extend the use of coal fired power plants and the development of new coal fired power plants when such plants might otherwise be replaced with more sustainable forms of energy."

"Similarly," Shapiro continued, "green building legislation which is hastily drafted and passed has had embarrassing and counterproductive results. For example, the Las Vegas green building tax cut that threatened such a strong impact on state tax revenue that it had to be hastily rescinded." When drafting solutions legislators need to "look beyond the obvious and consider the unintended consequences of their actions," Shapiro wrote. "One way of doing so is to correctly articulate the desired outcome, and to ensure that the legislation works to promote that goal."

In addition to being a LexisNexis-selected Top Blogger, Shapiro, is an associate with Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP in Philadelphia, heading that firm's Green Building initiative. She also is a LEED Accredited Professional. Read her excellent blog at http://greenlaw.blogspot.com .