Environmental News: Media Center

WASHINGTON (March 4, 2010) -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today introduced legislation that would block EPA from reducing the pollution from power plants that causes global warming. 

The following is a statement from David Doniger, Policy Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Climate Center:

“It is not constructive to block the only working law on the books to curb global warming pollution and replace it with nothing. Blocking the Clean Air Act will do nothing to bring Congress closer to passing comprehensive climate and energy legislation. Rather than fighting global warming solutions, we need to focus on cutting carbon pollution in a way that will spur clean energy investment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

“The Rockefeller bill would effectively block global warming pollution limits for four years, not two. That's because it would bar EPA from doing any of the homework needed to set limits -- no research on available technologies or their costs and no outreach and consultation with industry, state, or environmental stakeholders. So even after the two-year period ran out, it would take EPA another two years to get things done.”