Statement

ACC Applauds Congressional Hispanic Caucus Members’ Call for Administration to Halt EPA Regulation of GHGs at Stationary Sources

Letter, State Resolutions, Rockefeller Bill Signal Momentum Toward Action

ARLINGTON, VA (March 12, 2010) – Yesterday members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting that the Administration “take immediate steps to halt its current plan to regulate greenhouse gases at stationary sources and leave it to Congress to develop national climate change policy.”  Representatives Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX), Harry Teague (D-NM), Jim Costa (D-CA), Gene Green (D-TX) and Joe Baca (D-CA) signed the letter. Meanwhile, twelve U.S. states have introduced greenhouse gas resolutions: Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee, several of which have already been passed by state legislatures or become law.

American Chemistry Council (ACC) President and CEO Cal Dooley issued the following statement:

“We applaud Congressmen Rodriguez, Teague, Costa, Green and Baca for asking the Administration to halt the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs) at stationary sources.  Time is of the essence since EPA has said it intends to finalize the rule for “mobile sources” regulation – cars and light trucks – by March 31, leading to regulation of GHGs at as many as six million U.S. industrial facilities, power plants, hospitals and commercial buildings. New permitting requirements would block the construction of new facilities, stop business expansion, end job creation and delay or cancel energy efficiency investments that drive economic recovery and grow green jobs. Indeed, chemistry companies that have received stimulus dollars related to their work on energy efficiency projects stand ready to create good American jobs.  But only if EPA’s action doesn’t set back their efforts.

“Yesterday’s letter, following on Senator Rockefeller’s bill and a growing chorus of state resolutions show the sense of urgency around the country for something to be done about this issue.  Congress and the Administration must act immediately to postpone EPA action that could have far-reaching consequences for economic recovery, job creation and energy efficiency.  While a full calendar faces U.S. lawmakers, this matter belongs near the top of the agenda for Congress and the Administration alike.” 

Learn more about energy and stationary sources of GHGs and visit the Coalition for American Jobs.