Here is the full statement, via Post Carbon:

I do not plan to cosponsor Senator Rockefeller’s legislation at this time. I was encouraged by the response last week from EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to a letter that I signed along with other Senators that would delay into next year the application of stronger standards regarding increased efficiency or reduced pollution at large power plants and factories. Following up on my previous conversations with her in my office, I take her at her word.

In addition, as I have pointed out in my op-ed of December 3, 2009 entitled Coal Must Embrace the Future, West Virginia needs to have a seat at the negotiating table. I am continuing to have significant discussions about how to ensure the future of coal as a long-term energy resource. I am reluctant to give up on talks that might produce benefits for West Virginia’s coal interests by seeming to turn away from on-going negotiations. I will continue to negotiate with all who are earnestly engaged in the pursuit of a proper balance between saving jobs, protecting the environment and ensuring the health of our communities.

The Hill:

The main trade group for auto dealers is backing Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) plan to thwart upcoming EPA climate change rules and attacking White House claims that her measure would harm struggling automakers.

In a letter to Murkowski on Monday, the National Automobile Dealers Association supports her resolution – which may come to the floor this month – to prevent EPA from issuing rules that limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, cars, factories and other sources.

Here is the letter:

murkowski resolution letter nada

Here is the synopsis:

Urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency to immediately halt its carbon dioxide reduction policies and programs and to withdraw its endangerment finding and related regulations until a full and independent investigation of the climate change conspiracy and science can be undertaken.

And here is the full bill:

hj0013f

Judd Legum, a candidate for state delegate, has a petition opposing this legislation. The petition states:

I oppose Ron George’s carbon emissions resolution because I care about the Chesapeake Bay and reject anti-environment extremism.

You can sign the petition here.

Wonk Room:

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson today announced she expects the EPA to weaken its proposed standards for global warming pollution from stationary sources and delay implementation until 2011. Responding to a letter from eight Democratic senators with strong ties to coal, oil, and industrial polluters, Jackson previewed changes to the rule to regulate greenhouse gases which her agency proposed last September she expects to make in its final form. Under the Clean Air Act, the finalization of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding originally expected in March — now, according to Jackson’s letter, in April — will trigger permitting requirements for stationary sources.

Here is the letter administrator Jackson sent to the eight Democratic Senators:

ghg_rule_weakening_letter –

E2 Wire:

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is trying to rally support among his fellow governors for an effort in Congress to prevent EPA from regulating greenhouse gases.

A draft letter, which Barbour is circulating in advance of a National Governors Association meeting this weekend, says EPA’s regulatory push would place “heavy administrative burdens on state environmental quality agencies.”

The letter urges members of Congress to support Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s efforts (R-Alaska) to use the Congressional Review Act to block EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases.

Here is the draft letter:

ngaletter –

The Green Miles:

Richmond- Today, Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, petitioned the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to convene a proceeding for the reconsideration of the “Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Finding for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act”(Endangerment Finding) published by the EPA on December 15th, 2009.

The petition asks that the EPA reconvene the regulatory proceeding, provide the public with the opportunity to comment on newly available information, and provide such information to the Science Advisory Board for its review and comment.

A petition for judicial review of the endangerment finding was also filed today in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Virginia is the first state to file such petitions.

Here is the Petition for Reconsideration of Endangerment & Cause:

Comm_20v_20EPA_20-_20Pet_20for_20Reconsideration_202_16_10 –

Here is the Petition for Judicial Review:

Comm_20v_20EPA_20-_20Pet_20to_20Review_202_16_10 –

I mentioned this the other day but didn’t realize at the time that Collin Peterson (D-Big Ag) would also be an original sponsor.

Here is the legislation, as introduced:

HouseEPAbill –

The war on the EPA rages on:

Two Missouri congressional members plan to file legislation blocking the Environmental Protection Action from developing its own greenhouse gas rules.

Democrat Ike Skelton and Republican Jo Ann Emerson said Tuesday that Congress did not intend for the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. The lawmakers say regulators are not elected and therefore not accountable to the farmers, business owners and Missourians that could be hurt by changes.

Skelton and Emerson announced plans to file their legislation during a breakfast in Jefferson City for the state’s rural electric cooperatives.

The fact that regulators are not accountable to voters is a feature of our system, not a flaw. Voters are notoriously fickle, and it would be a shame if the professionals at regulatory agencies were subjected to their often irrational whims. This is especially true when it comes to highly scientific and/or technical matters such as this one.

Regardless, you can now add Representatives Skelton and Emerson to the growing list of lawmakers who feel strongly enough that the Clean Air Act is too strong they they’ve introduced legislation to weaken it.

Environmental Protection Agency:

Westar Energy has agreed to spend approximately $500 million to significantly reduce harmful air pollution from a Kansas power plant and pay a $3 million civil penalty, under a settlement to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act, the Justice Department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. As part of the settlement, Westar will also spend $6 million on environmental mitigation projects.

The agreement, filed in federal court in Kansas, resolves violations of the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review requirements at the company’s Jeffrey Energy Center, a coal-fired power plant near St. Marys, Kansas.

“Today’s settlement sets the most stringent limit for sulfur dioxide emissions ever imposed on a coal-fired power plant in a federal settlement,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA is committed to protecting clean air for communities by making sure coal-fired power plants comply with the law.”

Here is the Consent Decree:

westarenergy-cd –

Following up on ads released today by the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund and Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace has now released a report applying pressure on the five Democratic Senators believed to be vulnerable to cosponsoring Senator Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act amendment to gut the Clean Air Act. The report details ‘campaign contributions that these five Democratic Senators have taken from the lobbying clients of Jeffrey Holmstead and Roger Martella, the DC influence-peddlers accused of funneling campaign cash to Senator Murkowski’:

Mary Landrieu of Louisiana — Since 1997, Senator Mary Landrieu has directly received $152,668 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees.

Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas — Since 1997, Senator Blanche Lincoln, who is the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and has jurisdiction over clean energy legislation moving through the Senate, has directly received $139,766 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees.

Jim Webb of Virginia — Since 2005, Senator Jim Webb has directly received $25,700 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees.

Byron Dorgan of North Dakota — Since 1997, Senator Byron Dorgan has directly received $119,446 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees.

Ben Nelson of Nebraska — Since 1997, Senator Ben Nelson has directly received $65,770 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees.

All told, these five Senators have directly received $503,350 from these two lobbyists, their firms, their climate legislation clients, their PACs and employees, since 1997.

Here is Greenpeace’s report on this:

peddling-influence –

Additionally, Greenpeace sent letters to the five Senators mentioned above, attempting to clarify their position on Murkowski’s Dirty Air Act amendment. Here is a copy of the letter they sent to Senator Webb:

Webb Murkowski Letter-1 –

Senator Dorgan, one of the five Senators who received a letter from Greenpeace, refused to say whether or not he supported the amendment in a conference call today with reporters:

Dorgan wouldn’t say whether he might support a possible amendment by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to stop the EPA from regulating carbon emissions. But, he said, his “preference is that Congress address this issue and not the EPA.” How the amendment is crafted — most notably whether it suspends the agency’s regulatory power or completely removes it — is crucial, the senator added.