Long-Delayed Projects Get Exemption From EPA's New Air, Climate Rules

[WestVirginiaRebel]

NY Times:

The Obama administration will spare a stalled power plant project in California from the newest federal limits on greenhouse gases and conventional air pollution, U.S. EPA says in a new court filing (pdf) that marks a policy shift in the face of industry groups and Republicans accusing the agency of holding up construction of large industrial facilities.

According to a declaration by air chief Gina McCarthy, officials reviewed EPA policies and decided it was appropriate to "grandfather" projects such as the Avenal Power Center, a proposed 600-megawatt power plant in the San Joaquin Valley, so they are exempted from rules such as new air quality standards for smog-forming nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

The shift also has implications for the Obama administration's climate program.

McCarthy's statement says the proposed Avenal plant will be exempt from "additional permitting requirements that have taken effect during the period of time these permit applications have been pending" -- which include new standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2) that were put in place last summer and the new greenhouse gas rules that took effect on Jan. 2.

With such an exemption, projects that have been in the permitting pipeline for years would no longer need to show that they are using the best available technology to control their greenhouse gas emissions.

"EPA will propose to extend similar relief to other permit applicants that can show they are similarly situated," says the filing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. "This determination represents a change in the position EPA has taken in this matter and in previous interpretive statements issued by EPA."

Industry groups had argued that EPA's previous policy was unfair because it changed the rules after businesses applied for permits. When they claimed the agency's rules had caused a "moratorium" on the construction of power plants and other large facilities, they often referenced the backlog of projects that needed to meet new requirements before they could get their construction permits.
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But it's those eeevil Republicans who are supposed to be out to destroy the environment. Favoritism goes a long way with The One.

[Geee]

General Electric, General Obama, and the Level Playing Field

 

The nexus between the federal government, labor unions, and some, favored businesses grows tighter by the day. On 21 January our president issued an executive order creating the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, to be led by Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric. The council was established within the Treasury Department "to help ensure ‘the availability of nonpartisan advice to the president from participants in and experts on the economy.'"

 

Sounds like a good thing, right? The cheerleading in the Bloomberg article continues:

 

As head of the world's biggest maker of jet engines, medical-imaging equipment and power-plant turbines, Immelt gives the White House a corporate heavyweight to help burnish Obama's pro-business credentials.

 

"Power-plant turbines"? Hold that thought while reading the article here: a power plant that will be powered by GE turbines just received a waiver from the administration's new air-quality regulations. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

 

Here's a challenge to the new majority in the House: Will some committee chair, just one, call Mr. Immelt to testify as to whether he is a registered lobbyist, and if not, why not? As a followup, does he see any conflict between his roles as CEO of GE and head of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, and if not, why not?

 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/02/general_electric_general_obama.html

[pollyannaish]

So typically left/liberal politics. Pass a law that is for the good of "everybody." Then, when the big interests squeal, exempt them. Leaving the burden on the small businesses that fuel the country.

 

Crazy.

[clearvision]

Let's see if they are as accommodating for Texas as for CA.