March 26th, 2009
EPA, CO2 and reality
I recently blogged about the EPA’s finding that CO2 and other greenhouse gases are detrimental to public health. Then some unkind realist sen me the following email, replete with actual historic perspective, often so deleterious to blind optmisim:
“Mr. Fuller.
Look at the original clean air act, check the effectiveness of the acid rain reduction program. After 40 years approximately 55% of the 800 coal fired plants have SO2 removal systems. Fed, State, and Local Politicians taking bribes ( campaign contributions)from the utilities prevented the original two original clean air acts from fulfilling its promise. It will be another 20 years before all coal fired power plants will have SO2 removal systems.
Mercury rules took 15 years to get off the ground. The first power plants will put removal equipment in service this year and won’t complete the job until 2025. CO2 should take about 100 years. Thank you”
And since my original post on the EPA ruling it’s become clear that Congress is not likely to enact a carbon capture tax of any kind. So it’s not clear how far thge EPA can go on its administrative and regulatory mission without further legislation. Profit from pollution, a human norm from Beijing to Washington.
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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