President Barack Obama's EPA not nobody else's is proceeding with rules to regulate carbon-dioxide pollution, a greenhouse gas blamed for climate change, after Congress scared of their constituencies failed to pass legislation. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has said she will pursue modest steps that will help reduce emissions over time. Critics said yesterday's guidance for states and companies confused more than it clarified.
"They may have muddied the waters even more," said Bernard Weinstein, an economist and associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. "My concern is the energy and manufacturing sectors won't know what to do."
The EPA said complaints that the rules will halt the building of power plants are "simply wrong."
We understand it! Whatzamatta wid you morons?
The agency said yesterday that states can determine what pollution-cutting technologies power plants and oil refineries should use when the first national carbon-dioxide emission rules take effect next year. Environmental activists praised EPA's flexibility.
Pushing the enforcement down on the States, so then the EPA can sue the States that don't conform to their ever-changing definition of acceptable technology. Diabolical.
The rules will be implemented by states through a permitting process when companies seek permission to build or upgrade operations. States will be able to determine on a case-by-case basis the "best available control technology" that companies should use to limit carbon-dioxide pollution that politcians assert contributes to climate change, EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy said.
That way Kaliphornia can never have another power plant built within their borders. Do we have to sell them electricity? |