February 7th, 2009
EPA: that was then, this is now
The shift from the past federal administration to this one is becoming evident for states, greentech companies and VCs looking for future investment ideas. There’ll be more pressure to clean up air, water and soil pollution.
THEN: in the final week of the former admin the EPA once again extended the period of time Florida has to come up with standards for nutrients pollution. That means fertilizer and manure-laced run-off, not vitamin or orange juice spills. Florida’s own stats show that numerous streams, lakes and estuaries in the state have significant nutrient pollution. Even though the state was first ordered to set standards back in 1998, the old EPA just gave Florida another two years time to finally set some standards. Not good to rush into anything.
NOW:The EPA says the Tennessee Valley Authority violated the Clean Water Act with its inadvertent, you could say feckless, coal ash flood. That means TVA’s cost for the mess will rise substantially as there’ll be more lawyers’ fees and legal wrangling before TVA finally pays up if it loses. Would’ve been a lot cheaper to prevent the whole crapola in the first place. Not to mention happier fish and human neighbors. In the past the REA has taken no preventive action on the hundreds of coal ash hillocks in America. This could be a first step as the EPA’s message to TVA calls the ash a “pollutant.” Could be a real future for any company that can turn coal ash heaps into bricks or mortar.
The current EPA has responded to a White House directive and said it will re-examine the previous EPA’s decision to deny a waiver to California allowing that state to set fuel efficiency standards on light trucks and cars. California would surely be followed by New York and other pollution-phobic states in setting tougher fuel efficiency, anti-CO2 regs.
For those who believe global warming is science and not politics this is good news and seen as first step toward allowing some states to raise mileage requirements for cars and light trucks sold in those states. The auto makers have whined this is too expensive for them. So if the EPA goes forward, expect requests for bail-outs, subsidies, etc. from the car folks.
A newsman since 1969, Harry Fuller has worked for CBS, ABC, CNBC Europe, CNET and was founding news director at TechTV. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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