The Obama administration vowed Thursday to press ahead with plans to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants, setting up a near-certain clash with Republicans in the new Congress over climate change.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it would set standards for fossil-fuel power plants and petroleum refineries - which together emit nearly 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gases - starting in 2012. The move comes after President Obama tried and failed to get a major new energy and climate bill through Congress this year.
“We are following through on our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce greenhouse-gas pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans and contributes to climate change,” EPA chief Lisa P. Jackson said in a statement.
“These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean-energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home,” she said.
But the move comes in the face of strong criticism from Republicans, many of whom are skeptical of claims of manmade global warming and fear the economic consequences of the EPA move. Republicans moving into positions of power on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and other key panels strongly opposed Mr. Obama’s so-called “cap-and-trade” plan to limit U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions.
The upcoming rules could also trigger a battle with oil-producing Texas, which emits far more greenhouse gases than any other state and has adamantly opposed Washington restrictions.
EPA officials said the performance standards will be finalized in May 2012 for power plants, and November that year for refineries. New and existing plants can choose available technologies to reduce emissions.
Separately, the EPA said it will issue greenhouse-gas permits for Texas, which had refused to adopt rules on emissions. EPA also said it will issue permits in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, and Wyoming until state or local agencies are ready to do the job themselves.
The agency suggested it would not impose an outright figure for emission standards but instead would ask companies to embrace cleaner technologies.
“This is not about a cap-and-trade program,” senior EPA official Gina McCarthy told reporters on a conference call. “It is not in any way trying to get into the areas in which Congress will be establishing law, at some point in the future, we hope.”
Ms. McCarthy did not say which technologies would be favored. The dirtiest source of power is coal, which accounts for more than one-quarter of U.S. energy production and is represented by a politically potent coalition in both chambers of Congress.
Refiners complained the standards would harm their businesses.View Entire Story
By James A. Lyons
By arming the rebels, we're aiding al Qaeda
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
News and opinion from a Millennial Urbanite with Southern sensibilities,
Politics and pop culture from the perspective of an independent hip-hop conservative
Positive propaganda for a nation in peril.
World's Ugliest Dog Contest
Spelling Bee finale
Marines train Afghan soldiers
Rolling Thunder 2013
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal