Memo on H.R. 2454: Market Oversight

Nicholas Institute Discussion Memo on H.R. 2454, American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

Author(s): Jonas Monast

Published: August 2009

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The major market failures over the past year were largely caused by a combination of excessive risk-taking by market participants, a lack of effective government oversight and/or a lack of jurisdiction over the markets, and a lack of transparency. In addition, the petroleum price spikes in summer 2008 highlighted concerns about manipulation/excessive speculation affecting energy prices. The American Climate and Energy Security Act (the Waxman-Markey bill) includes provisions to address many of these concerns. In addition, the bill includes a subtitle to strengthen regulation of other energy commodities.