The Industry Should Get Behind Reasonable Greenhouse-Gas Bills
The atmosphere has definitely changed in favor of some form of regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions in the U.S. since the Democrats took control of Congress and the Presidency last November. On June 26, the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) by seven votes, and Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Sept. 30 introduced a Senate version that is even stronger.
Against this backdrop is a proposal by the Obama administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the gases from coal-fired powerplants, refineries and industrial sources under the Clean Air Act of 1970. There also is growing support for global initiatives. The key question is, in which direction should the U.S. go?