We keep talking about the cap and tax bill Obama would like to sign one day. But what about the EPA – is all the talk of cap and tax legislation just a feint – while all eyes are on the RINOs to see who will cave first, the EPA is going to regulate carbon emissions with or without the consent of Congress. We could hear an announcement as early as tomorrow.
Eco Factory: The EPA endangerment ruling, which reclassified carbon dioxide from a harmless byproduct gas to a dangerous pollutant, gives the organization the ability to regulate carbon dioxide generation through the Clean Air Act. If unfettered, the EPA promises to regulate cars, power plants, and factories by January, 2011. Unlike the stalled climate bill in the Senate, which would tax gasoline and electricity, EPA regulations are likely to also penalize automakers who produce popular SUVs and large-engined cars in an effort to regulate the types of vehicles that are brought to market. Business groups say that EPA’s regulation is “no more progressive than provincial ‘blue laws,’” the likes of which place a “sin tax” on alcohol and cigarettes and prevent their purchase on Sunday.
Other lawmakers are pushing forward to permanently exclude naturally occurring greenhouse gasses from the EPA’s list of “air pollutants.” This would include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is expected to reveal the “tailoring” of the upcoming regulations this week. This would define which businesses would be subject to carbon dioxide regulation, and what fuel efficiency requirements vehicles will now be required to make. The second issue is expected to be helped in part by President Obama’s electric vehicle “double dip” order, which allows automakers to double-count the fuel efficiency of EVs and plug-in hybrids when assessing their fleet-wide fuel efficiency. International automakers at Volkswagen, Audi, and BMW have criticized the president for this rule, saying that it shows favoritism to technology, not results. The European carmakers listed above produce clean diesel vehicles that are more fuel efficient than today’s hybrids and also have significant investments in hydrogen power.
The EPA is required by law to disclose all regulations that will take effect in January 2011 by April 1st, 2010.
How will this effect us and the economy?
Investors Business Daily: Much like domestic oil price control shifts increased America’s reliance on energy imports, the EPA’s plan for a 350 ppm limit on greenhouse gas emissions is a control that will just shift emissions production overseas — the production of goods and services that consumers value.
Ends and means cannot be separated. And unintended consequences are usually severe, as the Nixon and Carter administrations discovered in the 1970s and the Obama administration will discover today if the EPA doesn’t change course.
I think William O’Keefe, the author of the IBD article gives the administration too much credit when talking about “unintended consequences.” I believe they know full well what this will do to the economy.
Here in Upstate New York gas prices hover around $3.00 per gallon. Mr. LC and I have an older home that costs us about $320.00 per month in utilities – on the ‘budget plan’ which means there’s no savings in the off season. (Yes, we’ve blown-in insulation, replaced some windows and done a few other upgrades but it’s still that high.) What will this sort of legislation do to our household budget? What will it do to yours? Frankly, my dears, President Obama and his EPA administrator don’t really give a damn.
Follow the links and read both articles in their entirety to get a complete picture of this horrible situation. And remember, elections have consequences.
Update: Read what Sarah Palin has to say about Obama’s announcement that he’ll open drilling in certain areas where nobody wants to drill. Stall, baby, stall! (Via memeorandum)
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