EPA Administrator declares that CO2 CAN'T be considered for power plants!
With just weeks to go before the Bush administration cedes power, executive orders and regulatory decisions gutting all sorts of federal rules are flying out from Washington. One of the most recent has come from the office of EPA administrator Stephen Johnson. Johnson has decreed that the agency CANNOT consider greenhouse gas emissions in determining whether to grant permits for new power plants. This goes well beyond the Agency's previous neglect of the issue and actively prevents considering this criteria.
This runs directly counter to a Supreme Court ruling in 2007 that the EPA was authorized to regulate carbon dioxide emissions under the clean air act. The Obama transition team has been monitoring rulings such as this in recent months and has promised to reverse any orders it does not agree with. However, there are concerns that some permits could be granted before a repeal is enacted. Thanks to Mike for the tip!
[Source: New York Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 1:30PM (12/24/2008)
This guy is a total tool:
The EPA & Johnson had planned on granting California the a waiver to allow it to regulate greenhouse gases.
After talks with the White House Johnson is reversed his position and is attempting to block the efforts of 17 states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy.
On February 29, 2008, four labor unions representing most of the EPA's professional staff published an open letter to Johnson, complaining that he had ignored the EPA's official Principles of Scientific Integrity in advancing Bush Administration positions on water fluoridation, pesticide regulation, mercury emissions, and greenhouse gas control.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Johnson was criticized for his support of using human subjects in pesticide testing. In April, 2005, a secret hold was placed on his confirmation vote after he refused to cancel the Children's Environmental Exposure Research Study, which advocated recording the effects of pesticides on children from infancy to age 3. On April 8, Johnson canceled the study. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on April 29.
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Ignatius 1:34PM (12/24/2008)
Can we just have some more nuclear power plants, please?
We got a nice big place waiting for all the nuclear waste and it's not a huge danger if well maintained.
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Josh 5:24PM (12/24/2008)
It's time for us to hold the Bush administration accountable for all the things they've done to damage the future of the world. I honestly believe they sit down and try to think of the worst possible decision for the environment and then do that. Unbelievable. Hopefully Obama can bring some scientific thought to our government.
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rob 5:46PM (12/24/2008)
So, just curious... In February, will the then-former EPA Administrator Johnson take a job with American Electric Power, American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, or the American Coal Company?
We should remember to watch this, it'll be interesting to see where he lands in the civilian world.
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Bill 3:13PM (4/11/2009)
Your power plant photo shows massive quantities of Dihydrogen Monoxide which can cause serious problems according to www.dhmo.org and others.
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Jeff 1:33AM (12/25/2008)
Of course the EPA can't regulate CO2. It's unavoidable when you burn fossil fuels.
There might be a place for a commission that regulates efficiency, or the ratio of power produced to CO2 emission. Might be potential for advancement there. More efficient steam turbines, generators, energy storage & power-grid management.
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