POWER FAILURE: After Stifling New Coal Plants, Obama Administration Won’t Rule Out Clamping Down on Existing Ones
Environmental Protection Agency Official Dodges Question the Day After Strict Regulations Made Building New Coal Power Plants Nearly Impossible
President Obama Has Reacted To Soaring Energy Prices By Claiming His Administration Is Committed To An “All Of The Above” Energy Strategy:
“President Obama on Wednesday proposed sweetened tax incentives and subsidies to spur the market for alternative-power cars and trucks, promoting his ‘all of the above’ energy strategy while warning against other politicians’ ‘quick fixes’ to the latest spike in gasoline prices.” (Jackie Calmes, “President Pushes to Add More Credits for Hybrids,” The New York Times, 3/8/12)
But A Top Obama Administration Official Refused To Place Existing Coal Power Plants Off Limits From A Regulatory Crackdown In The Future, Just One Day After Essentially Blocking New Plants:
“The Environmental Protection Agency’s top air official stressed Wednesday that the administration has ‘no plans’ to issue regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. But, when pressed, Gina McCarthy, EPA’s assistant administrator for air and radiation, would not rule out eventually issuing the regulations, as environmental groups expect.” (Andrew Restuccia, “EPA official won’t rule out issuing climate rules for existing power plants,” The Hill‘s E2 Wire Blog, 3/28/12)