August 29, 2003

Why is there air?

As expected (see below), the energy industry just got a summer present in the form of relaxed rules for pollution control devices:

...the Bush administration signed a rule that will allow thousands of power plants, refineries, pulp and paper mills, chemical plants and other industrial facilities to make extensive upgrades that increase pollutants without having to install new antipollution devices. The rule, for which industries have lobbied the administration for two years, could save them billions of dollars. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that more than 17,000 plants will be affected.

The Administration has been getting a free pass from the electorate while destroying, modifying, or ignoring environmental legislation for a long time. And it goes on: today, EPA says it "...lacks authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles..."

Maybe this will get people a little riled up. Everybody breathes, after all, not just inhabitants of the blue states. California, Massachusetts and New York already have plans to sue; expect more lawsuits to follow.

(Apologies to Bill Cosby for ripping off his album title for the post)

Posted by Linkmeister at August 29, 2003 09:11 AM
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