EPA announces plans to regulate power plant, oil refinery emissions

[kpete]

Source: Washington Post

Posted at 11:40 AM ET, 12/23/2010
EPA announces plans to regulate power plant, oil refinery emissions
By Juliet Eilperin

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and oil refineries next year, targeting the nation's two biggest sources of carbon dioxide.

The move, which comes as part of a legal settlement with several states, local governments and environmental groups which have sued EPA under the Bush administration for failing to act, highlights the Obama administration's intent to press ahead with curbs on carbon despite congressional resistance.

Collectively, electric utilities and oil refineries account for almost 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions: Under the agreement, EPA will propose new performance standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011 and will issue final standards in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively.

"We are following through on our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce GHG pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans, and contributes to climate change," EPA Administrator 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."

Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2010/12/epa_announces_plans_to_regulat.html?hpid=topnews

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EPA sets the stage for expanded climate rules
By Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia - 12/23/10 11:49 AM ET

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a schedule Thursday for setting greenhouse gas standards for power plants and oil refineries.

While EPA is pledging a “common-sense” approach, the move is likely to escalate a battle between the Obama administration and Republicans, who argue climate regulations will hurt the economy. Members of the GOP are pledging to block the rules on Capitol Hill next year.

more:
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/134969-epa-sets-stage-for-expanded-climate-rules

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Somebody please spin the tired, old yarn

about how our President is bought & paid for by corporate interests - no different from the average Republican? This represents just the latest in a long line of actions on the part of the Obama administration that utterly refutes that notion, so I expect the bashers to ignore it completely or else post unrelated codswollop in a half-assed attempt at deflection.

[nyy1998]

4. +1 nt

[SpartanDem]

5. No kidding

the polluters aren't going be singing Obama praises for doing this and by looks of it neither will the base.

[pinto]

2. Kick. Good, tangible steps.

:kick:

[Red1]

3. A Long Time

Between now and may '12'...lotsa people will get bought out,
We've yet to hear the bleating angst from the energy corps about
costs passed to the consumer

far from a done deal...

[Turborama]

6. K&R - BBC: Obama to regulate greenhouse gases from power plants

The Obama administration has said it will regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants amid opposition from industry and Republicans in Congress.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said it would regulate emissions from fossil fuel power plants by 2011 and petroleum refineries by 2012.

President Barack Obama is pushing the EPA to cut emissions after a climate bill failed in Congress this year.

But Republican lawmakers have said the EPA's new rules will harm the economy.

Full article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12069884

(Republicans always say that because they mean it will hurt their personal economy)