Over the next 18 months, the Environmental Protection Agency will finalize a flurry of new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury, smog, ozone, greenhouse gases, water intake, coal ash—it’s all getting regulated. And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling.More later. By the way, President Obama said he would do this if he got elected. This is not news.
Industry groups such the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, and the American Legislative Exchange Council have dubbed the coming rules “EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck.” The regulations, they say, will cost utilities up to $129 billion and force them to retire one-fifth of coal capacity. Given that coal provides 45 percent of the country’s power, that means higher electric bills, more blackouts and fewer jobs. The doomsday scenario has alarmed Republicans in the House, who have been scrambling to block the measures. Environmental groups retort that the rules will bring sizeable public health benefits, and that industry groups have been exaggerating the costs of environmental regulations since they were first created.
And that's why folks are buying up leases in natural gas-bearing shale around the country. This is not rocket science.
what happens if this happens then they also ban fraccing ? close the factories when the wind does not blow. coal miners and drillers can join the ranks of the unemployed but somehow the white house will blame this on the last president.jj
ReplyDeleteWith Ohio and Pennsylvania soon to join the ranks of western states with significance tax royalty from fracking, I am no longer worried that fracking will be banned altogether.
ReplyDeleteI do think severe regulations will be put in place, and that could slow development. But I think Congress is getting to rein in EPA.