EPA trying to force its hand with cap and trade

When cap-and-trade legislation regulating carbon emissions stalled in Congress, Kentuckians breathed a sigh of relief. But that collective sigh may have been a little premature. If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has its way, cap and trade may not be fatally poisoned after all.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) released a paper this week detailing how the EPA is working to enforce greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act. The EPA cites two current programs as granting the authority to regulate greenhouse gases.

As the EPA works to usurp the law through regulations, what could this mean for the Bluegrass State?

Cap-and-trade regulations would be devastating for Kentucky's economy. As the third-largest producer of coal in the U.S. thousands of Kentuckians would lose their jobs and energy costs would skyrocket in the Bluegrass State.

Jim Waters, vice president of policy and communications for the Bluegrass Institute, detailed the dismal prescription for cap and trade in a 2009 Lexington Herald-Leader column.

The federal government is finding ways – with or without the votes in Congress – to implement its extreme and devastating environmental regulations. In doing so, it also threatens Kentucky’s way of life.

Monday links

Some links to get your week started...

• Once again, Don Boudreaux makes me laugh audibly with another well worded letter...fantastic.
• Kentucky's U.S. Senate race got some national coverage with a televised debate on Sunday ...
 

• Cap and Trade: Here's a great, plain language explanation of some often discussed legislation.