Editorial: Clear Skies Act gets muddied
Friday, Dec. 9, 2005 | 8:13 a.m.
Nearly four years ago President Bush proposed his Clear Skies Act, a plan for reducing pollution from power plants. It is this pollution that is most responsible for global warming, smog, acid rain and mercury contamination in the food chain. Bush trumpeted the plan as a modernization of the existing Clean Air Act and said it would result in a 70 percent reduction of air pollution within 15 years.
The plan was vehemently criticized by environmental groups, which said it was too friendly toward the power industry. Under Clear Skies, carbon dioxide emissions, the gas blamed for global warming, would be addressed only through a voluntary program. Environmentalists said this was a major flaw that would likely hasten the Earth's warming trend. As for the other pollutants in power-plant emissions, environmentalists said strict enforcement of the Clean Air Act would be much more effective than what Bush was proposing.
Many members of Congress were skeptical of the plan, too. Separate plans calling for more stringent controls on pollution were proposed by Sens. Tom Carper, D-Del., and James Jeffords, I-Vt. Holding up Bush's bill has been a reluctance by the Environmental Protection Agency to compare Bush's plan with those two. In April, however, during the confirmation hearings for EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson (who was sworn in on May 2), Johnson promised that a cost-benefit analysis of the three plans would be done.
That analysis was released Oct. 27. Not surprisingly, the EPA, which has been promoting the Clear Skies plan on its Web site, found that Bush's plan was superior. Last week, however, another report, prepared by the Congressional Research Service (part of the Library of Congress), cast doubt on the EPA's analysis. Authored by specialists in environmental and energy policy, the report says, "EPA's analysis is limited and incomplete, which works to the disadvantage of alternatives to Clear Skies that include more stringent standards."
Obviously a third and totally impartial study is required. Congress should keep Clear Skies on a back burner until one is completed.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- CityCenter unveils Crystals high-end retail district
- No. 24 UNLV gutsy in 74-72 victory at Arizona
- Vdara exec predicts strong sales
- Sarah Palin wasn’t a disaster, but Obama is
- Freeze warning issued for LV
- Guilty plea a victory for ATF agents
- Cheney’s time to be heard is over
- Fontainebleau lenders sue construction companies over liens
- Noteworthy: More from the Trop, Cher changes, Newton on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’
- Perseverance pays off for Firefly owner
Blogs
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Superintendents want state to immediately seek Race to Top funds
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The great Jennifer debate (1 Comment)
The Kats Report
From Eva Longoria Parker to a cluster of execs, crowd takes a shine to Crystals (2 Comments)
Elsewhere
Harry Reid's recipe for getting health-care deal done (8 Comments)
UNLV in at No. 11 in SI's college hoops power rankings (3 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 13: A few good chefs
Gray Matter
Fight weekend in Las Vegas and Thanksgiving (3 Comments)
Calendar »
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
- 8 Tue
- 9 Wed
-
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Willie Nelson at Planet Hollywood Theatre for the Performing Arts
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Cash'd Out at Aliante Station
Aliante Station Casino and Hotel | 9 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Brooks & Dunn at the Hilton
Las Vegas Hilton
-
Ron White performs at the Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati











