We Need a Real Fix to the EPA’s CO2 Power Grab

Nicolas Loris / March 30, 2011

The Senate is expected to vote today on several amendments that would affect the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) told reporters that it’s now or never and voting on the amendments will “get rid of that issue one way or the other.”

Policymakers have introduced a number of legislative fixes, both bad and good, to address the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. A temporary fix by means of a two-year delay is no fix at all and leaves a lot of uncertainty for businesses expansion because of the threat of future regulations. CO2 permit exemptions for small businesses and farmers will not exempt them from the higher energy prices they will pay when the EPA regulates larger facilities. Regulating these entities would significantly increase the cost of energy for all of America. Congress needs to enact policies that would permanently prevent unelected bureaucrats from regulating CO2 and the catastrophic economic consequences that come along with it. Only this approach would provide the regulatory certainty American businesses need. (more…)