Results tagged “greenhouse gases”

Editor's Note: In a statement issued today, API President and CEO Jack Gerard cited the need for a thorough assessment of the Kerry-Lieberman draft climate proposal released today. The full text of Jack's comments appears below:

Each week the National Journal's Energy and Environment blog poses a question and invites a select group of authorities to respond. The question for the week asked about a Gallup Poll showing that Americans are less concerned about the environment than at any time in the past 20 years.

National Journal asked, why? And what does the lack of concern portend for climate legislation?

Pressure is mounting against the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) bid to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act. And with so many members of Congress involved, a scorecard is needed to keep track of the action.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) plan to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) is shaping up as one of the most contested government policies in years. During the past few weeks:

This week, three more members of Congress introduced legislation to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act. As one sponsor Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) said, the regulations "will undo any positive things that we can do for our economy." (AP)

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) yesterday introduced a bipartisan disapproval resolution to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act.

Calling the proposed regulations an "economic train wreck," she told the Senate:

Here's an excellent example of how duplicative regulations can cause problems for the economy and American consumers. At issue is the EPA's new authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act.

In a move that should raise eyebrows across the country, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) last week agreed to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vehicles and possibly from home heating-oil furnaces. Although on the surface this agreement might sound environmentally friendly, it's likely to do more harm than good.

President Obama today addressed attendees during the final hours of the Copenhagen climate summit, stressing the need to act "boldly and decisively" on climate change. Following his speech, I issued the following statement:

Last week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar delivered the keynote address at the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen.

In his speech, Secretary Salazar pointed out that public lands are vital to the nation's energy future, both in producing alternative energy and supplying the oil and natural gas available there in massive quantities, which could generate thousands of new jobs if allowed to be developed. Public lands also have potential for managing greenhouse gas emissions, using carbon capture and storage technology pioneered by America's oil and natural gas industry many years ago.

There's more talk of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding and the agency's related efforts to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a Forbes article authored by Brian Wingfield.

The endangerment finding essentially means that either Congress must pass a climate bill, or the administration will control GHGs without input from those who've been elected to represent the American people.

At least two states are objecting to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) endangerment finding. As reported earlier this week, this finding paves the way for EPA regulators to restrict carbon dioxide emissions in the United States.

Those of us who studied American history in school know that December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day, the commemoration of the day of "infamy" when the Japanese bombed the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. The nation countered by entering World War II in the Pacific and later in Europe, and Americans bought war bonds and scrimped to support the fighting men abroad.

On this December 7, Americans once again are being asked to make an economic sacrifice for a global cause. Today is the opening day of the two-week long international climate talks in Copenhagen where President Obama is expected to announce his desire to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.

As international leaders gather in Copenhagen this week for climate discussions, an "endangerment" finding by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could require businesses that emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to make costly changes to reduce emissions--even if Congress doesn't approve pending climate change legislation.

The Harris Poll this week released the results of a survey showing that those who believe the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is affecting the climate has dropped from 71 percent two years ago to only 51 percent now.