Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the underlying bill prevents EPA from setting a standard or requirements for new--new coal-powered plants. Instead of telling a new coal-powered plant they have to use technology to reduce their carbon emissions, this bill says they can't require that of new plants, unless new plants are already using technology to reduce emissions. Well, okay, if they are already using technology, we can say everybody ought to use that technology; but then the underlying bill goes further and says: Well, not only are they using technology that accomplishes the goal, but there has got to be six plants represented all over the country that are achieving the standard using technologies, and then EPA can consider a standard for new power plants. This is like the belts and suspenders. They can't look at foreign technology. They have to use six plants that are using technology. Of course, one would ask: Why would anybody spend money to use technology to reduce carbon pollution if they are not required to do it? It costs money. So it is so unlikely that they are ever going to be able to set a new standard at the Environmental Protection Agency, given the underlying bill. But the bill also says, if there are six plants that are using technology, they better not use technology that has been funded by the government. Well, why not? That is what the government does. We provide DOE grants to have demonstrations of new technologies. That is what the underlying bill says.…”