Anti-regulation politics may have hurt energy industry

[unhappycamper]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/eagle-ford-energy/article/Anti-regulation-politics-may-have-hurt-energy-5215491.php

Anti-regulation politics may have hurt energy industry
By Neena Satija, Texas Tribune : February 8, 2014

Businesses in energy-related industries in Texas say they have been unable to take full advantage of the natural gas boom that is roaring across the state because of a delay in the issuing of greenhouse gas permits — an instance in which Texas' anti-regulation stance actually might have hurt business.

The Environmental Protection Agency began requiring the permits more than three years ago, but the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality refused to enact the rules, arguing that it was illegal to regulate greenhouse gases. That left the responsibility to the EPA, which is only slightly larger than its Texas counterpart and has a small permitting division. As a result, the backlog of applications grew quickly, as did the complaints.

Texas lawmakers directed the state's environmental agency last year to begin following the federal regulations. On Tuesday, the EPA gave Texas authority over the greenhouse gas permitting. But it will take months for the agency to implement its own rules to take over the permitting.

The state has long fought with the federal government over regulations, especially those from the EPA. The chairman of the Texas agency, Bryan Shaw, who is among the many state officials who question the science of climate change, repeatedly has criticized the EPA for developing rules that could cripple the Texas economy.

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Where are they going to get their fracking water from?