Oil Spill
Food pantry helping those affected by spill
Sun Herald
By NICOLE DOW
Asian Americans for Change has joined with Bethel Free Clinic, Bethel
Lutheran Church, Lee's Market and Beauvoir UMC to offer a food pantry for
families affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/03/27/3846724/food-pantry-helping-those-affected.html
State News
Low turnout for meeting about creosote pollution
Sun Herald
By PRISCILLA LOEBENBERG
GULFPORT -- The Department of Marine Resources' public meeting at the Good
Deeds Community Center on Tuesday had a handful of attendees and only one
commenter. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the public about
Cavenham Forest Industries' plans to further contain contamination at its
Creosote Road site and how those plans would affect wetlands.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/03/27/v-print/3846795/low-turnout-for-meeting-about.html
CMR proposes changing size and possession limits, requiring license to sell
reef fish
Published: Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 10:57 AM Updated: Tuesday, March
27, 2012, 11:10 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources voted
during its March 13 meeting to approve a notice of intent to change state
regulations on size and possession limits of some fish and prohibit the
sale of seafood by recreational fishermen, stated a news release from the
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/03/cmr_approves_notice_of_intent.html
Meeting On Turbines Set For Vicksburg
Developers Seek Federal Approval
WAPT
POSTED: 10:57 am CDT March 27, 2012
VICKSBURG, Miss. -- Developers said federal approval for a pair of
power-generating turbines in the Mississippi River near Vicksburg will take
a bit longer than expected due to ongoing study.
http://www.wapt.com/news/30771578/detail.html
Personnel Board: Protections needed
Editorial – Clarion Ledger
Former Gov. Haley Barbour tried it eight years ago, and now Gov. Phil
Bryant is trying, too: Removing Personnel Board protections of public
employees.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120328/OPINION01/203280316/Personnel-Board-Protections-needed?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Opinion|p
National News
EPA imposes first greenhouse gas limits on new power plants
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin,
The Environmental Protection Agency issued the first-ever limits on
greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants Tuesday, but stopped short
of imposing any restrictions on the nation's existing coal-fired fleet.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-to-impose-first-greenhouse-gas-limits-on-power-plants/2012/03/27/gIQAKdaJeS_print.html
EPA unveils power-plant standards
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
March 27, 2012 12:23 PM EDT
The Obama administration took a major step forward on the regulation of
greenhouse gas emissions when the EPA on Tuesday released its long-awaited
rule limiting carbon dioxide emissions from new coal-fired power plants.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74527.html
New Rules Limit Coal Plants
EPA Tips Scales Toward Natural Gas in Power Generation; Miners, GOP Cry
Foul
Wall Street Journal
The Obama administration on Tuesday announced long-awaited rules to limit
carbon-dioxide emissions from new power plants that will effectively block
the construction of new coal-burning plants and make natural gas even more
attractive as a fuel for generating electricity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303404704577307524051798192.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
EPA chief Jackson: 'No plans' to issue climate rules for existing power
plants
The Hill
By Andrew Restuccia - 03/27/12 12:37 PM ET
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said Tuesday
that she has no plans to pursue regulations that would curb greenhouse gas
emissions from existing power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/218433-epa-chief-jackson-no-plans-to-issue-climate-rules-for-existing-power-plants
Texas wins latest round with EPA in federal court
The Associated Press
Updated: 8:06 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Published: 6:11 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, 2012
A federal appeals court scolded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on
Tuesday for rejecting a series of state pollution control projects in Texas
that federal regulators said failed to satisfy requirements of the Clean
Air Act.
http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/texas-wins-latest-round-with-epa-in-federal-2265543.html?printArticle=y
State agency hears from public on fracking study
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The state environmental agency is listening to the
public's response to a natural gas drilling technique that could create
jobs but carries pollution risks.
http://myfox8.com/2012/03/27/state-agency-hears-from-public-on-fracking-study/
House panel hits EPA on gas prices
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
March 27, 2012 10:30 PM EDT
Once again, it's the EPA's turn to sit in the hot seat for rising gasoline
prices.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74554.html
Job growth expected from cheap natural gas
By Paul Davidson
USA TODAY
The nation's fast-growing supply of cheap natural gas is setting off a
manufacturing revival that's expected to create hundreds of thousands of
jobs as companies build or expand plants to take advantage of the low
prices.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2012-03-27/natural-gas-manufacturing-boom/53812740/1
Press Releases
EPA Proposes First Carbon Pollution Standard for Future Power Plants
Achievable standard is in line with investments already being made and will
inform the building of new plants moving forward
WASHINGTON – Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for
carbon pollution from new power plants. EPA's proposed standard reflects
the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take
advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning,
efficient natural gas generation, which is already the technology of choice
for new and planned power plants. At the same time, the rule creates a path
forward for new technologies to be deployed at future facilities that will
allow companies to burn coal, while emitting less carbon pollution. The
rulemaking proposed today only concerns new generating units that will be
built in the future, and does not apply to existing units already operating
or units that will start construction over the next 12 months.
"Today we're taking a common-sense step to reduce pollution in our air,
protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American
energy," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Right now there are no
limits to the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be
able to put into our skies – and the health and economic threats of a
changing climate continue to grow. We're putting in place a standard that
relies on the use of clean, American made technology to tackle a challenge
that we can't leave to our kids and grandkids."
Currently, there is no uniform national limit on the amount of carbon
pollution new power plants can emit. As a direct result of the Supreme
Court's 2007 ruling, EPA in 2009 determined that greenhouse gas pollution
threatens Americans' health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes
in our climate that can have a range of negative effects on human health
and the environment.
The proposed standard, which only applies to power plants built in the
future, is flexible and would help minimize carbon pollution through the
deployment of the same types of modern technologies and steps that power
companies are already taking to build the next generation of power plants.
EPA's proposal is in line with these investments and will ensure that this
progress toward a cleaner, safer and more modern power sector continues.
The proposed standards can be met by a range of power facilities burning
different fossil fuels, including natural gas technologies that are already
widespread, as well as coal with technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
Even without today's action, the power plants that are currently projected
to be built going forward would already comply with the standard. As a
result, EPA does not project additional cost for industry to comply with
this standard.
Prior to developing this standard, EPA engaged in an extensive and open
public process to gather the latest information to aid in developing a
carbon pollution standard for new power plants. The agency is seeking
additional comment and information, including public hearings, and will
take that input fully into account as it completes the rulemaking process.
EPA's comment period will be open for 60 days following publication in the
Federal Register.
More information: http://epa.gov/carbonpollutionstandard/
Statements on EPA's Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants
WASHINGTON -- Following a 2007 Supreme Court ruling, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for
carbon pollution from new power plants. EPA's proposed standard reflects
the ongoing trend in the power sector to build cleaner plants that take
advantage of American-made technologies, including new, clean-burning,
efficient natural gas generation, which is already the technology of choice
for new and planned power plants. At the same time, the rule creates a path
forward for new technologies to be deployed at future facilities that will
allow companies to burn coal, while emitting less carbon pollution. The
rulemaking proposed today only concerns new generating units that will be
built in the future, and does not apply to existing units already operating
or units that will start construction over the next 12 months. Here's what
people across the country are saying about EPA's proposed carbon pollution
standard for new power plants:
John Arensmeyer, CEO, Small Business Majority:
"…National opinion polling we released in September found 76 percent of
small business owners support the EPA regulating carbon emissions under the
Clean Air Act. Another 87 percent believe improving innovation and energy
efficiency are good ways to increase prosperity for small businesses…"
Albert A. Rizzo, M.D., Chair, Board of Directors of the American Lung
Association:
"…By proposing standards for carbon pollution from new facilities, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is setting the stage for the next
generation of America's power plants to be the least toxic and most modern
in the world…"
The Clean Energy Group's Clean Air Policy Initiative:
"…EPA's action today represents a modest step that provides the industry
with business and regulatory certainty… Further, based on our review of
recent projections by the U.S. Energy Information Administration and
current market dynamics, the proposed GHG performance standards for new
sources will not impact the reliability of the electric system."
Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the Investor Network on
Climate Risk:
"Ceres applauds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for releasing,
for public comment, its historic proposal to limit carbon pollution from
new power plants under the Clean Air Act. Ceres supports this new standard
because it will provide certainty to businesses and investors, clarify the
risks and opportunities for the U.S. electric power sector, and serve as a
long-term market signal to drive greater investment in lower-carbon
electric power generation…"
Dick Munson, SVP, Recycled Energy Development:
"The Environmental Protection Agency's new rules on greenhouse-gas
emissions will help U.S. businesses increase their productivity and
competitiveness. By internalizing the costs of pollution, EPA has provided
certainty to firms seeking to generate clean energy and increase
manufacturing efficiency."
Ralph Izzo, CEO, Public Service Electric and Gas:
"…The Agency's action establishes a logical and modest standard for new
electric power plants and provides the industry with much-needed regulatory
certainty. The EPA provides a framework for the industry to confront this
problem in a cost effective manner…"
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air
and Nuclear Safety:
"...Today's proposal to ensure that new coal and natural gas power plants
take into account their greenhouse gas emissions before they commence
construction is a step in the right direction as we work to curb these
harmful emissions..."
Bill Ritter Jr., Former Colorado Governor:
"…It is welcome news, indeed, to see our nation moving forward with clean
air standards to limit the harmful carbon pollution from new coal burning
power plants as coal plants are the highest emitting source of air
pollution in our country. The proposed emission standards for carbon
pollution will unleash smart investments in cleaner, homegrown energy that
will limit dangerous pollution and build a modern clean energy economy for
the 21st Century."
Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.):
"The EPA took an important step today in the effort to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions with the release of the New Source Performance Standards…"
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D- Calif.), Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and
Commerce:
"The proposal is a breakthrough. It sets achievable limits on dangerous
carbon pollution, spurs investments in new clean energy technologies, and
provides certainty for industry. And it shows the President is listening to
scientists, not extremists who deny the existence of climate change.
Today's action will reduce pollution, make families healthier, promote
innovation, and help us compete with China and other countries that are
investing in clean energy."
Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member, Committee on Natural Resources:
"…The Obama administration has already put us on the path towards emitting
less pollution from our vehicle tailpipes, and now they are doing the same
thing for America's power plant smokestacks. Both efforts will spur a
generation of American-built energy innovation, and help stave off the
worse effects of climate change. This carbon standard is yet another
indication that we need to keep America's natural gas here at home to
provide affordable electricity and capitalize on this competitive advantage
to rebuild our manufacturing, chemical and fertilizer industries."
American Sustainable Business Council, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and
Main Street Alliance:
"…As representatives of the business community, we understand the
importance of certainty and clear market signals and believe a national
standard to reduce carbon pollution from new power plants will both clarify
risks and opportunities for U.S. businesses, while also leading to
technological innovation and investment in the domestic clean energy
market. Investing in cleaner technologies and more efficient resources can
be a pathway to profit and prosperity, boosting economic growth and
creating jobs while also providing competitive returns to investors. We
look forward to reviewing the proposal and identifying opportunities for
increased investment in innovative low and no-carbon technologies as well
as new energy infrastructure and energy efficiency…"
