Tamar Hallerman
GHG Monitor
4/19/13
IN CONGRESS
Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced a bill late last week that would bar the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Treasury from “devising or implementing” a carbon tax. The legislation prohibits either figure from promulgating any sort of price on carbon emissions generated from the burning of coal, natural gas or oil. During an April 18 floor speech, Rahall urged lawmakers to further embrace the broad use of coal in electricity generation. “Our nation must embrace an energy strategy that encompasses a broad range of fuel choices, including domestic coal, if we are ever to have any hope of completely freeing ourselves from our overdependence on foreign fuels,” Rahall said. “This means that this nation must acknowledge the simple fact that coal has been and for the foreseeable future it must be part of a comprehensive national energy strategy that will enable us to grow our economy, remain strong militarily and help to influence environmental and economic challenges around the globe.”
IN EPA
U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dipped 1.6 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year, the Environmental Protection Agency said April 15. In the most recent edition of its annual greenhouse gas inventory, the agency said the trend can be attributed to reduced emissions from the electricity sector—due mainly to widespread coal-to-gas fuel switching—as well as improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency and warmer weather. EPA said that compared to 2005 levels, emissions have decreased by nearly 7 percent.
