Thursday, July 07, 2011

EPA gets tougher on coal-fired power plants; GOP looks for Democrats to back countermeasure

Air emissions from coal-fired power plants are again the topic of political unease today, as the Environmental Protection Agency announces tougher regulations. For the EPA release, click here.

The proposed rules will affect "as many as 28 states whose pollution blows in to other states," Elizabeth Weise of USA Today reports. Under the Clean Air Transportation Rule, plants that emit pollution to other states will have to begin reducing emissions in 2012 and the new regulations are expected to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide levels significantly by 2014. (Read more)

Republican Rep. Ed Whitfield of Western and Southern Kentucky, the chairman of the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, has a bill "to delay and tweak" the rules, Jean Chemnick of Environment & Energy News reports. Whitfield said he is looking for Democratic sponsors and named Democrat Gene Green of Texas as a prospect. (Read more, subscription required)

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