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Gov. Dave Heineman joined 19 other governors this week in asking Congress to rein in the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to regulate greenhouse gases.
“This is not the time to be doing this, given the delicate state of our economy,” Heineman said Thursday in a brief interview.
The EPA plans to begin regulating greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles and industrial facilities, such as large power plants and oil refineries.
The 20 governors wrote to the Senate and House leadership this week to oppose such regulation.
“EPA is not equipped to consider the very real potential for economic harm when regulating emissions,” the governors wrote.
The EPA should provide input, they wrote, but the nation’s policies on greenhouse gases “are best developed by elected representatives at the state and national level, not by a single federal agency.” The governors represent 18 states plus Puerto Rico and Guam.
EPA spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said through a written statement that regulating greenhouse gases could lead to innovations and new markets, which would benefit the economy.
“EPA has announced common sense measures to protect Americans from this threat (greenhouse gases) while moving America into a leadership position in the 21st century green economy,” Gilfillan said.
Kenneth Winston of Omaha, lobbyist for the Nebraska Chapter of the Sierra Club, also said economic opportunities could result from the regulation of greenhouse gases.
“Nebraska residents would reap the economic benefit of proper development of our ample wind, solar and agricultural resources for energy,” Winston said by e-mail. “On the other hand, the fossil fuel economy ... sends money to other states and other countries, some of which are hostile to us.”
The governors wrote that EPA regulation would increase the cost of electricity, gas and products.
Heineman said he had no doubt that EPA regulations on greenhouse gases would have a negative impact on the American economy and jobs.
The EPA shouldn’t be taking unilateral action on this, he said. “Congress needs to get involved.”
Contact the writer:
444-1123, rick.ruggles@owh.com
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