Global warming debate focuses on businesses

The debate over battling global warming is becoming a business vs. business affair.

During a hearing and a press conference about global warming legislation yesterday, businesses offered competing views of how the economy would be affected.

Traditional business groups, power companies and manufacturers said they would be harmed by the legislation, which would require the state as a whole to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and by 90 percent by 2050.

During a joint hearing in Annapolis before the state General Assembly's House Environmental Matters Committee and the House Economic Matters Committee,...