Clean Air: Tiny Step Forward, Huge Step Back
The Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia today relented, just a bit and after heavy pressure by the EPA and others, to allow continued work towards capping sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
The [Clean Air Interstate Rule, or CAIR] regulations are aimed at cutting emissions of unhealthy pollutants and particulate matter in 28 states by tightening the cap on sulfur-dioxide emissions and establishing a new cap on emissions of nitrogen oxides.
Meanwhile, W is sure making the most out of his last months as President. Some argue that he's attempting to rewrite history in regard to his own legacy.
As importantly, W's administration has been quietly issuing hundreds of last-minute regulations and executive orders. As has been his M.O., his administration issued a unilateral, unexplained decision contrary to all prior expert testimony and Congressionally-appointed advisors but in line with industry interests. And of course, the decision was made without allowance for public comment. Says Alston & Bird,
With only weeks remaining as Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson issued a memorandum indicating that CO2 is not a regulated pollutant in the approval process for power plants. Johnson's interpretation of "regulated pollutant" was not opened to a public comment process, but he concluded by saying,
The interpretation adopted in this memorandum is based on a reasonable reading of the terms of the regulation, is consistent with past Agency practice, and is not precluded by the Clean Air Act. Furthermore . . . it is not sound policy to trigger mandatory emissions limitation under the [permit] program on the basis of rules designed for information gathering.
Johnson's decision remains for now, but it may fail in court and could be overturned by Lisa Jackson when she takes Johnson's place as EPA Administrator under President-elect Obama's administration.
Innovation Is A Must
Tom Freidman's world is flat theory (c)(TM) merged with his latest call for a green revolution in a recent article titled "While Detroit Slept." Mr. Freidman states his number one rule of business in the modern world thusly:
Whatever can be done, will be done. The only question is will it be done by you or to you. Just don’t think it won’t be done. If you have an idea in Detroit or Tennessee, promise me that you’ll pursue it, because someone in Denmark or Tel Aviv will do so a second later.
To prove his point, Freidman cites to a case study about an innovative business model for green personal transportation.
The Better Place electric car charging system involves generating electrons from as much renewable energy — such as wind and solar — as possible and then feeding those clean electrons into a national electric car charging infrastructure. This consists of electricity charging spots with plug-in outlets — the first pilots were opened in Israel this week — plus battery-exchange stations all over the respective country. The whole system is then coordinated by a service control center that integrates and does the billing.
Under the Better Place model, consumers can either buy or lease an electric car from the French automaker Renault or Japanese companies like Nissan (General Motors snubbed Agassi) and then buy miles on their electric car batteries from Better Place the way you now buy an Apple cellphone and the minutes from AT&T. That way Better Place, or any car company that partners with it, benefits from each mile you drive. G.M. sells cars. Better Place is selling mobility miles.
I don't know if it will work, but I love the innovation. Meanwhile, US automakers are waiting for politicians to stop posturing, and getting beaten to the punch in the race to produce a viable electric car.
On a positive note, President-elect Obama today officially named Nobelist Steven Chu as the next secretary of energy. Those pushing for support of the green economy are thrilled, but I can't help but think that Frosty the Coal Man's Christmas is ruined.
[Via Wait Wait Don't Tell Me]
Heard On The Radio Today
Atmosphere
Driving home from a cafe, listening to Live 105...
CALLER: Sorry man. I just have a question. I know you already said it, but my goddamn kids keep yelling and my wife keeps running the goddamn vacuum cleaner while I'm trying to listen. Who were those last guys?
DJ: Atmosphere
CALLER: A-T-M-O... thanks man.
DJ: We aim to please.
Same 15 minute drive, now circling for parking. Switched to NPR, and listening to their Science Friday team discuss Al Gore's speech calling for all U.S. energy to be renewable in ten years:
It's important that we move quickly. Most people understand that China is on pace to start consuming much more than the U.S. But fossil fuels are a limited resource. So, in effect, They'll. Drink. Our. Milkshake!