Thursday, August 02, 2012

EPA Gets Record Number of Public Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering carbon standards for new power plants.The standard under consideration is 1,000 lbs of CO₂ per megawatt-hour. While they may seem not worthy of a post here what is significant is the agency received 2.3 million public comments in support of carbon pollution standards. As evidence of a connection between anthropomorphic global warming and extreme weather continues to mount, Americans are paying attention and want the government to do something [infographic: Union of Concerned Scientists]. The agency conducted hearings in Washington, DC and Chicago at which public health professionals, climate scientists and local politicians  testified in support of the standard. Typically the nattering nabobs of climate denial paid for by the fossil fuel industries are already planning to introduce legislation to block implementation of the ground-breaking rule. Nevertheless, the EPA got the message that Americans want to move forward to a greener, more sustainable way of living.