It’s O.K., Folks In The Coal States Don’t Need To Breathe

A Republican House member and a Democratic U.S. senator have introduced legislation that pretty much does away with regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency of greenhouse gas pollution from new coal-fired power plants. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) are apparently working together on the legislation which went public by way of a press release Monday afternoon. This comes just after the EPA issued new draft rules limiting emissions from new power plants. These limits mean no new coal plants can be built unless they use technology to capture and store carbon emissions.

When has THAT ever been done and when has it been successful. Pray tell. I live in Montana where our last Governor was a champion of “Clean Coal” technology. The thought of shooting coal fired emissions back into the earth is an explosion waiting to happen. But the Whitfield-Manchin bill would direct the EPA to set new rules. Whitman says the EPA’s current rules are “extreme” and says the bill would mean there has to be a national discussion about the use of coal.

Democratic Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Calif., the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, says the Whitfield-Manchin bill is “scientific lunacy”. He says a month ago Republicans “recklessly shut down government” and now “they’re recklessly trying to shut down efforts to protect the planet.”

By: Lesley Lotto

Radio Journo by trade, Yoga teacher, Vegan, Hippie, bleeding heart Liberal by night.