EPA finally regulates carbon. BFD!

[Willinois]

The US Senate has failed to even vote on an energy bill since Obama took office. Plan B is dealing with the climate crisis through EPA regulation. One of the most important steps is being announced today.

First, here's the washington post.

Quote:The Environmental Protection Agency will issue the first limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants as early as Tuesday, according to several people briefed on the proposal. The move could end the construction of conventional coal-fired facilities in the United States.

The proposed rule — years in the making and approved by the White House after months of review — will require any new power plant to emit no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt of electricity produced. The average U.S. natural gas plant, which emits 800 to 850 pounds of CO2 per megawatt, meets that standard; coal plants emit an average of 1,768 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt.

You can get the details from a site EPA set up.

Of course, Republicans and other coal industry cronies will cry bloody murder. They answer to the coal CEO's who would rather harm the public than spend a little money cleaning up their plants.

The Executive Director of the Sierra Club applauds it...

Quote:“The Sierra Club applauds President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s announcement today to establish new safeguards under the Clean Air Act to protect Americans from dangerous carbon pollution. Their action today follows the actions of thousands of families and activists over the last several years to prevent 166 dirty coal plants from polluting their communities, air and water.

“These first-ever carbon pollution standards for new power plants mean that business as usual for the nation’s biggest sources of carbon pollution, dirty coal-burning utilities, is over. Cleaning up dangerous carbon pollution from new power plants and modernizing the way we power our nation will help secure Americans’ health and future, and prevent against life-threatening air pollutants like dirty soot, toxic mercury and smog.

“Most of all, these carbon pollution protections mark the end of an era for antiquated, dirty coal plants and continue the momentum behind clean energy to ensure healthier kids, families and workers, as well as much-needed job creation and a more secure climate future.”

[Willinois]

The director of the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign just published a good blog post on this. The whole thing is worth reading but here's how it ends...

Quote:Clean Air Act protections like these also spur innovation and modernization in our energy sector, creating much-needed jobs, protecting public health and tackling climate disruption. Countries around the world are racing to see who will lead the clean energy future, and we cannot afford to let American fall behind. These new protections will help ensure our nation is leading the way in developing the cutting-edge clean energy technologies of the 21st century.

Every family has the right to breathe clean air, free from the toxic pollution that has taken too many lives and destroyed too many communities. We cannot accept more dirty coal while our friends and family miss days of school and work, ending up in the emergency room instead. Or while American workers remain off the job, when clean energy projects could create thousands of sustainable careers. Or while the fate of our planet hangs in the balance, as global temperatures rise.

By establishing carbon pollution protections, the EPA is moving forward to clean up and modernize the way we power our country – a move that will make for healthier kids, families and workers, while creating much-needed jobs and fighting climate disruption.

[jaxx]

And the wannabe republican candidates want to dismantle the EPA.
Climate change is bogus and Jesus rode a dinosaur.