ALEC's Efforts to Harpoon EPA Limits on CO2

I’m never surprised when I read news like this. Using documents obtained from the American Legislative Council (ALEC), the Guardian has found a coordinated effort by the GOP and big business to harpoon the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gasses.

            ALEC, which is funded in large part by the coal company Peabody Energy and the Koch brothers, and which holds a strong stance against the EPA, has been encouraging state attorneys general to bring lawsuits against new EPA regulations that restrict emissions from power plants. ALEC encouraged legislators to perform similar lobbying of governors and state attorneys general. The organization also got legislation into about a dozen state houses that would impinge on the efforts of the EPA to reduce carbon emissions.

            The new rules for power plant emissions came out last year. In a somewhat surprising move this week, the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has the authority to enforce a similar rule that protects downwind states from the pollution caused by power plants in other states.

            Considering all the big money and the organized effort against the EPA and any program to reduce the amount of carbon that we pump into the atmosphere, it amazes me that any progress can occur. But it does. There may be hope.