The EPA is so brutal on CO2 emissions and the Obama administration is cracking down so hard on the fossil fuel emissions that we should really slow it down over the next few years- right?

That’s what the EPA is saying. They are bending to pressure from coal and other heavy industry plants to ease up on the CO2 emissions because they are worried about further impact to the economy. In fact, my earlier example is a bit harsh- the Obama administration was pushing the EPA to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases in hopes that they would support a climate change bill he is pushing as well.

Last year the EPA said it would require coal plants and refineries emitting over 25,000 tons a year of greenhouse gases to obtain permits demonstrating they were using the best technology available to reduce emissions blamed for warming the planet.

"EPA is considering raising that threshold substantially to reflect input provided during the public comment process," said the agency in a statement. I translate that to mean that industry complained a lot so they are going to change the rules.

Last week Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and senators from other energy states set a letter to the EPA that “expressed concerns” about the impact on workers and businesses. Right.

Has Mr. Rockefeller seen the letters of the people who live next to the mountains that are being blown up? They have “expressed concerns” as well about how that affects their quality of live, destroys the water and poisons their community.

The idea of the coal industry asking the U.S. government to go easy on them in the name of their employees is absolute horse manure. These guys need to stick it.

Reuters quotes Rockefeller as saying the, “…EPA's overture was ‘good progress.’ Nonetheless, he said he would craft legislation to ‘provide Congress the space it needs’ to consider a ‘workable’ climate policy that ‘will protect jobs and stimulate the economy.’

Translating that loosely, Rockefeller wants some kind of “climate change” bill that doesn’t really require the coal industry to do anything different. Think I’m exaggerating? Capitol Hill is anticipating that Rockefeller would ask for a 2-3 pause on the EPA issuing carbon emission regulations.

"EPA actions in this area would have enormous implications on clean coal state economies and these issues need to be handled carefully and appropriately dealt with by the Congress, not in isolation by a federal environmental agency," in Rockefeller in a statement.

Oh god.

And then there’s Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, who believes the EPA should not be able to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Again. To clarify. Lisa Murkowski does not believe the ENVIRONMENTAL Protection Agency should be able to regulate emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Just so long as they actually pass something.

"Just as it has with other pollutants for 40 years, EPA has now made crystal clear that it will address global warming pollution in a way that benefits both our economy and our environment," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club head.

Can’t you just see it- that we wait 2-3 years like Rockefeller wants, Obama loses, and the Republicans take the White House and then there goes the game.

Photo Credit: Tomas Mascardo (via Flickr under CCL)