EPA Says CO2 Permits Required Next Year

The Environmental Protection Agency will require the largest stationary sources of carbon dioxide emissions to apply for EPA permits by early next year, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson wrote to eight Senate Democrats yesterday. The smallest regulated sources of carbon dioxide emissions will get a pass until 2016, said Jackson.

Senator John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) on behalf of eight Senate Democrats authored a February 19 letter to Jackson expressing serious concerns about proposed EPA carbon dioxide regulations.

“We write with serious economic and energy security concerns relating to the potential regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act,” Rockefeller wrote. “Ill-timed or imprudent regulation of GHGs may squander critical opportunities for our nation, impeding the investment necessary to create jobs and position our nation to develop and produce its own clean energy.”

“We remain concerned about the possible impacts on American workers and businesses in a number of industrial sectors, along with the farmers, miners, and small business owners who could be affected as your agency moves beyond regulations for greenhouse gas emissions to implement regulations to curtail GHG pollution from stationary sources,” Rockefeller explained.

In Monday’s letter Jackson responded, “A vote to vitiate the greenhouse-gas endangerment finding would be viewed as a vote to reject the scientific work of the thirteen U.S. government departments that contribute to the U.S. Global Change Research Program. It also would be viewed by many as a vote to move the United States to a position behind that of China on the issue of climate change, and more in line with the position of Saudi Arabia.”

The 13 U.S. government departments cited by Jackson refer to departments run by Obama appointees, including such departments as the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services that have little or no climate science expertise.

"I'm concerned about the possible negative effects on Alaska businesses as well as on the U.S. economy as a whole, as a result of potential EPA regulation of green house gas pollutants," Alaska Senatory Mark Begich (D) said in a press statement following the Rockefeller letter.”

"We strongly believe this is ultimately Congress' responsibility, and if done properly, will create jobs, spur new clean energy industries, and greatly advance the goal of U.S. energy independence. If done improperly, these opportunities could be lost," Begich explained.

“As President Obama has called on Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to enhance the nation's energy and climate security, lawmakers signing the letter to Jackson state concern that blunt EPA regulation of emissions will likely not result in the best treatment for Alaska and other states with resource and manufacturing as major components of their economies,” said Begich press secretary Julie Hasquet in the press statement.

“A temporary timeout isn’t sufficient,” added Robert Dillon, spokesman for Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski (R). “Bad regulations today are bad regulations tomorrow.