Obama EPA Moving Foward With New Greenhouse Gas Regulations
- Posted on December 25, 2010 at 2:27am by
Meredith Jessup
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Despite the fact Democrats’ climate change legislation died in Congress in 2010, the Obama administration is pressing forward with new greenhouse gas regulations for America’s power plants.
On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will regulate fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries starting in 2012. Together, these power sources account for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gases, the EPA says.
“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 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.”
The LA Times reports:
The new move toward far-reaching emissions rules comes as environmentalists had begun to worry that the Obama administration was easing its push in order to avoid confrontations with major industries in advance of the 2012 presidential campaign.
Unlike regulations coming out Jan. 2 that address pollution only from new facilities or expansions, the schedule announced Thursday would eventually compel industry to reduce emissions across the board, including at older sites. Power plants and oil refineries account for almost 40% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the new plan, the EPA would issue proposed standards for power plants in July, go through a public comment and revision period, and announce final standards in May 2012. For the nation’s refineries, proposed standards would come out next December and final standards in November 2012.
Industry groups and Republicans have already started to voice their opposition to the federal agency’s plans. Charles T. Drevna, president of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association told the Times that the energy plants have no ready technology to help reduce greenhouse gases.
“Regulations can‘t create technology that doesn’t exist or change the laws of physics and economics, so the only way to comply with EPA’s proposals would be to inflict massive increases in energy costs and massive increases in unemployment on families across our nation,” Drevna said. “We will urge Congress to vote to stop EPA from implementing these greenhouse gas regulations.”
Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., the incoming chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, warned that Thursday’s announcement from the EPA marked “a crescendo” in the agency’s “long regulatory assault against America’s energy producers” and pledged Republican opposition for the coming year.
“The EPA has its foot firmly on the throat of our economic recovery,” the Republican said. “We will not allow the administration to regulate what they have been unable to legislate.”
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Comments (30)
dustytrail
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 3:36pmNew conservatives members of congress need to roll back the environmental agenda. Its the same progressives again. Every attempt to sabotage the American economy is being done by progressives on the left. Lets be united on this one too. We the people are not happy with the EPA. We the people feel it necessary to cut your budget and remove your power to stifle the growth of this nation. EPA is an enemy of the people. I will support members of congress to strangle the ability of the environmentalist agency from progressing the agenda of the left.
Report Post »I_can't_believe_this_stuff
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 3:25pmI guess these intellectually challenged morons haven’t heard that global warming theories are wrong (eg Google Piers Corbyn). If they had any moral courage they’d each resign. And all the other ‘believers’ who voted for these lunatics would hang their heads in shame. The question is whether any of them are smart enough to know it …
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 1:50pmBarack Obama. Dictator-in-Chief.
All bow to the King.
Report Post »wash1776
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 12:37amThis is just a crock of crap that Obummer and the EPA (Evil P-ss Ants) have come up with again. The worst polution is in the congress, white house(hose) and all of Obummers appointees. Obama and the EPA couldn’t tell the truth if their lives depended on it.
Report Post »Alaskangriz
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 12:05amThey will use these rules to distroy America…… We need to drill for Oil. And Alaska has all we need, we just need to DRILL and Drill now!
Report Post »Eyeball
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 11:15pmWe DO NOT want federal agencies creating the law and going around Congress. That is laws without representation. The Legislation with elected officials makes laws. The EPA and the FCC need to be abolished for exceeding their authority. Where is Congress on this? Do they like being made insignificant?
Report Post »rbblum
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:49pmThe ‘other (significant and real) story’ regarding the EPA is that they recently decided to usurp the rights and responsibilities of Texas in the oversight of issuing permits to the various refinery and corporate operations due to the EPA believing that Texas is not strict enough in denying permits or enforcing the current pollution laws. Just another example that if Obama can not fundamentally transform the United States via Congress, he will then affect change via federal agencies, the legal system, czars and executive order.
Report Post »ICANHANDLETHETRUTH
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 4:42pmI would like to translate the above, PREPARE TO PAY THROUGH THE NOSE FOR ENERGY….We need to stop these clowns before they destroy this country, call and send e-mails to your clowns in office………..
Report Post »roostercogburn
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 3:53pmJust goes to show you can‘t close you’re eyes when you have power hungry clowns in washington, we have many agencies that need to be disbanded and defunded.
Report Post »How could they be so stupid they didn’t hear that the whole global warming deal was a fraud and had been debunked long ago, if this is allowed to pass it will break the back of the country..
Pitchforks anyone..
dontbotherme
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 2:51pmIt’s time. The EPA must be defunded & disbanded. They are not a legal branch of our Government & have no business making laws. Ditto for the FCC. Enough already!!
Report Post »JD Carp
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 2:05pmMan made global warming is a complete hoax! HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST US? Disband the EPA, NEA, BOE and UN
Report Post »cranes
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 1:48pmThe EPA does not have the right to enact legislation. This is Obama and his CZARS trying to circumvent the Legislative Branch. America wake up and call for action for Congress to enact additional legislation if necessary that the Departments do not have the right to create these Laws. This is going to cost you as a tax payer. It will bankrupt the states. Is this what you want for this country.
Report Post »mrzmac
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 1:46pmUnfortunately there are just enough ignorant congressional members that truly believe this is the answer to economic and climate issues. We cannot allow their ignorance to destroy our country. Please do not think the House will do what needs to be done without major pushing from the American People.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 12:31pmIf at first he does not succeed, he just pushes ahead on another path, circumventing congress. Using his agencies to achieve the progressive agenda is just one path. Executive Order is another. He must be stopped or we are doomed to failing socialist rule. I guess it doesn’t matter to him that the VOTERS he works for sent a message that we do not want that? He just keeps on the fast track to socialism any way he can. 2012 can’t come soon enough.
Report Post »advent2
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 11:17amJust another step forward in the march to toal control.
Report Post »ttommy65
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 11:06amIt’s time for our elected officials to rein in the regulators or we will become the progressive dream of becoming a third world country. Did these czars appear on the ballot? I guess I failed to read the fine print….
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:23amThis is rule by decree. Congress, our representatives, do not matter any more. Now the EPA FCC etc make the laws.
Report Post »Ohiowoman
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:19amIt’s long past time to defund and disband the EPA. It’s nothing more than a power grabbing bureaucracy that no longer serves any useful purpose.
Report Post »bobodu
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 8:41amWhat’s with the Blaze being so far behind? Yahoo had this up two days ago. And only seven replies??
Report Post »This is big stuff!!! Thanks Nixon….
UnkaB
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 8:37amOne thing that MIGHT help is to establish our own group of experts and have them get before the buffoons in DC and use pictures to explain the process where carbon dioxide is actually used for good by plants as Scothantlas explained above. The control freaks are repeatedly screeching their lies hoping the uneducated or don’t care groups will just latch onto their lies and believe them. Draw pictures with explanations so that even the dc dummies (small letters intended) can understand.
Report Post »jcapers
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 7:40amWe the People can no longer believe that the government is acting in our best interest. The Congress said “No”, and the EPA is going to regulate greenhouse emissions; are you kidding me? Wake up, American. No not trust the government! Pay attention to what’s going on and get involved.
Report Post »danrighty
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 6:50amThese dictorial people must be stopped. Hell, why have congress? Just let unelected loons make all the decisions. WAKE UP CONGRESS!
Report Post »ck-DCdestroyesUS
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 6:38amHuman caused carbon based Global warming is a proven hoax! Government wants to control our lives while mega enriching politicians and their backers. Obama is a puppet and a want to be dictator who cares nothing about the American way of life, our exceptional proven abilities, and this nations need for affordable energy to be competitive in the world market. I pray Rep Fred Upton with the help of newly elected Senator Manchin stops Obama and his dictatorial, illegal, criminal EPA. De-fund the USA haters and the Czars! If you go to southwest Wyoming in Fossil Butte National you will see Swamp fossils simuliar to current wildlife on the central USA Gulf Coast, proving there was global warming in the past but it was not caused by human‘s with their coal fired electric power plants and SUV’s. Drill in the USA and the economy improves immediately!
Report Post »Scothantlas
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 5:14amThe idea of global warming is stupid. The whole theory, is based on the idea that we are bringing more carbon and more Co2, To this planet that did not exist. That is insane. There was the same amount of carbon no matter how many lights you have on no matter how much you drive your car….same amount of carbon that is here now, is the same amount that was here when T-rex was terrorizing plant eaters. You burn wood you breathe you produce power. You release Co2, Trees and plants and plankton take it in and grow and release back O2 and take in the carbon. All your doing by releasing CO2 is making it easier for plant life to grow! This is insanity! Methane from cattle, same deal here kiddies its not like these cows are producing new methane same amount thats here now same amount that was here when the dinos walked.
Report Post »Anne G
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 3:09amYa‘ll better watch this crap or those dolts in congress will think we don’t care! This is major stuff!
Report Post »Trying2Understand
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 5:54amAttention House of Representatives! Now is the time to step forward and exercise the Checks & Balances, which are built into the Constitution…block this travesty! If we allow this sort of power-grab and further condone this back-door approach to law making, then we are truly past the point of redemption. Please remind the Executive and Judicial branches that it’s WE THE PEOPLE who must consent to being governed…they’re pushing us to decide otherwise.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 7:34am@Trying2Understand
Report Post »I would echo your post. We The People must bear down on our representatives to take back their job and not to be bypassed by bureaucratic entitie like the EPA and FCC.
We’re going to have to get a lot louder to be heard.
snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on December 26, 2010 at 10:32amThe congress had best act swiftly to put a check on much of the administration and the out of control departments as well – EPA and the FCC along with the Fed Reserve for starters. If the stupidity of the EPA is to put the foot on Americans throat then I say we take the blowtorch and apply it to their own legs – and crank the heat up on them at the same time.
Report Post »magnum357
Posted on December 27, 2010 at 9:02amIf you want to reduce the gasses that warmup the planet than shut off the electric suppling the major cities 40% of the time. Don’t start doing this until the south thaws out.
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