Today, U.S. EPA announced it has officially thrown out the .075 ppm ozone standard proposed in 2008 by the Bush Administration. The Bush proposal would have reduced the standard from .08 ppm to .075 ppm. Now the EPA is proposing to set a new revised ozone standard somewhere between .06 ppm to .07 ppm. This from the
Expert Environmental Traders Discuss Climate Bills
The past two days I have been in Houston at the Environmental Markets Association (EMA) fall conference. If you are not familiar with the EMA, it is an organization that supports the use of market-based solutions to environmental issues. The members are largely made up of consultants, traders of environmental credits and project developers.
Many
Federal Court Decision Increases Pressure on Congress to Pass Climate Change Legislation
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The Federal Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit) issued a major decision in the ever growing debate regarding action on climate change. The court is allowing states to proceed with a suit against power companies that calls for a court order to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming.
Eight states (California, Connecticut
Grim News Follows Good News For Northeast Ohio on Ozone
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The Obama Administration announced it would review the revised ozone standard of .75 ppb that was previously established by the Bush Administration. The Obama Administration has said if they decide to revise the ozone standard below .75 ppb they will announce it by December of 2009 and finalize the standard by August 2010.
As reported
EPA Gives Possible Timeline for Climate Change “Endangerment Finding”
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More rumblings that EPA may move forward with regulation of greenhouse gases under its existing authority under the Clean Air Act. It appears EPA has started to rattle its saber in an effort to re-energize the cap-and-trade proposal currently in the Senate.
Cap and Trade: Job Killer or Call to Action for Coal Dependent States
Ohio faces a two headed hydra when it comes to the impact of the proposed cap-and-trade bill in Congress- the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES):
- Ohio generates almost 90% of its energy from coal;
- Manufacturing represents one the largest employment sectors in Ohio (ranking 3rd nationally with 1.1 million workers as
Major Overhaul to House Climate Change Legislation
Representatives Waxman and Markey released their much anticipated re-write of their proposed cap and trade climate legislation earlier this week. Much speculation has been offered in the media that the bill had no chance of passing as it was originally structured, if it had any chance at all.
Well, there has apparently been a lot
OMB Critique of Proposed Endangerment Finding Causes Controversy
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As reported by the AP, "White House Memo Challenges Finding on Warming", an OMB document contains opinions that regulation of the greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act could have dramatic impacts on the economy. The release of the OMB memo seems to have put the Obama Administration on the defensive.
Major news outlets including the N.Y Times
With the “Fuse Lit” Climate Legislation Bogs Down in Congress
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Democratic leaders of the US House Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to hold another hearing on climate change legislation on May 1. As discussed by commentators with the Environmental Markets Association, some Washington Insiders believe this announcement is a clear indication the Waxman-Markey Climate Legislation won’t make it.
Republican have hammered home the unknown costs of the proposal
California Waiver, Endangerment Finding and Survival of the Auto Industry
A new complex web of standards for control of vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is coming at a time of unprecedented challenges to the auto industry. The timing raises questions as to whether the Bush Administration’s denial of California’s request to establish separate GHG standards is really worth re-visiting.
On January 26, 2009 President Obama