Could EPA Rule Turn the Lights Off in Texas?
At a hearing today in Austin, state power companies and members of various commissions slammed the Environmental Protection Agency because of a measure aimed at reducing emissions from power plants in 27 states, including Texas.
Critics of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule say it could cause rolling blackouts and the loss of much-needed jobs in Texas and blamed the EPA for not affording the state due process to comment before handing down a Jan. 1, 2012, deadline.
The EPA rule initially proposed in August 2010 did not include Texas in the sulfur dioxide reduction programs. The rule seeks to reduce ...
Comments (22)
Thomas Prentice via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Always accusations, never any facts. Always "beliefs", never any evidence. Always predictions (like rapture) that scare rather than happen.
Barbara Nalls Golson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry can get you a job, if you are an illegal. likes to keep them working.
Tedi Elliott via Texas Tribune on Facebook
so the power companies cry about the cost of cleaner air, yet they'll spend money to file suit against the EPA. sheeesh.
Tom Hedges via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I thought Rick Perry had that under control? No? George W Bush maybe..... No?
Tracy Griffith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Remember when they said that fining airlines for keeping passengers in planes on the tarmac over three hours would cause all kinds of trouble for everyone?
Barbara Nalls Golson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The facts are Texas doesnt have any jobs. Teachers, bus drivers, anyone that works for for the schools are out on their a.. because of Perry. Vote him in for pres. and you may be on the street.
Marissa Stewart via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Texas doesn't have taxpayer leech jobs, Barbara? What a shame.
Larry Hayles via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Right. like last year when Perry said plants would close and there would be tens of thousands of lost jobs when the EPA demanded plants get new permits to replace those done under the flawed Texas "flexible" permit plan. Most plants have complied or in the process. results.. plants closed - zero, jobs lost due to the new permits - zero.
Bill Eaves via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Kill the EPA,
Debbie Mason via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well then maybe he needs to invest more into wind farms.Like they have out near Alpine Texas.
Leigh Williams via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"Taxpayer leech jobs"? What the hell? Are you referring the folks providing the framework for our civilization in the classroom, fighting fires, keeping the peace, cleaning up the joint, and working in the transportation infrastructure? Inspecting buildings for safety, keeping property records, working for justice in the court systems, doing air traffic control so all the planes don't crash, building and repairing the roads, . . . . damn, I'm getting tired just trying to list all the critical things people on the public payroll do. Shut the heck up about "taxpayer leeches", you moron -- most of us like civilization and are willing to pay for it.
Mike C. Miller via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sure, lots of Republicans have the attitude that teachers are "taxpayer leeches". Why would that surprise you? At the TeaNut debate last night, the applauded letting the uninsured who are sick just die, for God's sake.
And it's a shame that this biased article doesn't state what even my small one-horse town's newspaper noted today:
"The EPA says the action will prevent tens of thousands of premature deaths and thousands of asthma attacks.
Sulfur dioxide, or SO2, is a gas that causes constriction of airways and aggravates asthma. It also is a major contributor to acid rain, which enters the food chain when it descends on rivers and lakes."
http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/luminant-if-epa-guidelines-approved-it-will-close-two-plants/article_b5bc44bb-f91c-5b85-9cac-42b1846bfe78.html
This is what the Governor and the other Republicans are defending -- emissions that kill tens of thousands of people. That makes about as much sense as calling one of the most valued professions amongst our midst -- public school teachers -- "taxpayer leeches"!
Erin 'Keck' Inks via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Because a few relatively short term jobs are totally worth giving more kids asthma, enabling more inefficient and unsustainable energy use, contributing to global warming and polluting the air for current and future generations!
Debbie Mason via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The pollution here is bad enough, just think what it would be like with out the EPA? It is just another scare tactic and another way to get more money. They are another group who raises hell but does not want to put money back into their company. But charge us outrageous prices. I am glad we have the EPA. Yeah I bet that is why we are having rolling black outs also. Then they can use that to say look that is why we are having them. They think we are so stupid. Keep your hands off our EPA.
John Carhart via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Republicans and many of their corporate pals (particularly in the fossil fuels industry) sense that the Great Recession is an opportunity to repeal environmental regulations on a grand scale. Full speed ahead and costs to the public health be damned!!
Debbie Young-mason via Texas Tribune on Facebook
President Obama in his jobs plans wants to rebuild roads and one mayor freeway in Texas but do you see State Sen. Kevin Eltife complaing that the repugs wont let him do it? Hell no. Instead they whine when jobs are being lost in other areas. They dont want people to have jobs because that might mean the President might get re-elected. It is all about what they can do to keep the economy down and to heck with jobs or the people. If State Sen. Eltie is so concerned about jobs maybe he should vote for the Presidents job bill. Just whine and do nothing is their motto. Maybe they should update their stuff instead of threateniing we could have black outs, we are having them and have them every year when they say they need something.
Ed Covington via Texas Tribune on Facebook
turn'em off then...i can survive in the dark, i can't survive with dirty air...
Clinton McBride via Texas Tribune on Facebook
But I thought we didn't want any involvement from Washington in good ol' Lone Star Texas?
Tom Osen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sounds like the EPA has been working on these new rules since 2008. The polluters have been aware since then. What have they been working on since 2008? Getting their attorneys lined up? Lining the politicians pockets? WTH people?!
Carolyn Price
Thought I would chime in with something I read today:
"A recent Brookings Institute report that found the clean-energy economy employs 2.7 million American workers across a diverse group of industries — greater than the number of people employed by the entire fossil-fuel industry — and that clean tech has outperformed the national rate of job creation during the recession." Michael Brune, Sierra Club.
It also strikes me as ironic that not allowing more pollution to enter our air will cause rolling blackouts due to over-use of electricity. Why do these folks think this summer was so hot anyway? Think I'll write a book: "Global Warming for Dummies."
Eddie Nimibutr via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry wants us to pray for jobs since he has no clues about anything.
Elmo
This is Sibley and Averitts fault when the passed deregualtion. Lined their pockets and living high on the hog