Obama's EPA Plans for 2013

By S. Fred Singer
October 25, 2012 
The November elections will determine the direction of US climate policy -- and therefore also energy policy and the pace of economic growth: jobs, standards of living, budget deficits and inflation.  Obama has already promised to make climate change the centerpiece of his concern -- with all that implies: "Green" energy policy, linked to loss of jobs (Keystone pipeline disapproval), rising gas prices (ethanol mandates), and crony capitalism (Solyndra).

By contrast, Romney is a climate skeptic -- and Ryan has been quite outspoken: the perfect anti-Gore.  The science supports Romney-Ryan -- notwithstanding the UN-IPCC, and the bulk of the climate scientists living high on the hog on government grants.

All of this emerged from campaign rhetoric -- but it needs to be spelled out more clearly.  Note that Obama no longer promises to "heal the Earth and stop the rise of the oceans."  He has also been uncharacteristically quiet about his efforts to "make electricity prices skyrocket."  But there is more in store if he is re-elected and unleashes the full regulatory apparatus of the EPA.

Senate report
Earlier this month, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released a new EPW Minority Report entitled, "A Look Ahead to EPA Regulations for 2013: Numerous Obama EPA Rules Placed On Hold until after the Election Spell Doom for Jobs and Economic Growth."
This report enumerates the slew of environmental regulations that the Obama-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has delayed or punted on before the election while President Obama is trying to earn votes; but the Obama-EPA plans to move full speed ahead to implement this agenda if President Obama wins a second term.  As this report reveals, these rules taken together will inevitably result in the elimination of millions of American jobs, drive up the price of gas at the pump even more, impose construction bans on local communities, and essentially shut down American oil, natural gas, and coal production.

"President Obama has spent the past year punting on a slew of job-killing EPA regulations that will destroy millions of American jobs and cause energy prices to skyrocket even more," Senator Inhofe said.  "From greenhouse gas regulations to water guidance to the tightening of the ozone standard, the Obama-EPA has delayed the implementation of rule after rule because they don't want all those pink slips and price spikes to hit until after the election.  But President Obama's former climate czar Carol Browner was very clear about what's in store for next year: she told several green groups not to worry because President Obama has a big green 'to-do' list for 2013 -- so they'll get what they want. As a result, hard working Americans will lose their jobs and be subjected to skyrocketing energy prices
"This report also importantly puts the spotlight back on an Obama-EPA that has, as the Washington Post said, earned a 'reputation for abuse.'  It serves as a stark reminder that President Obama has presided over a green team administration that works every day to 'crucify' oil and gas companies and make sure that 'if you want to build a coal plant you got a big problem.'

A Look Ahead to EPA Regulations for 2013

Summary
This lengthy catalog of EPA horrors does not include schemes being hatched but not yet disclosed.  Nor does it include initiatives by "junior EPAs" -- such as the cap-and-trade plan  by CARB (Calif Air Resources Board).
Clearly, if Romney-Ryan are elected, they will have their hands full just reining in the EPA - an essential step in restoring economic growth.  They will need all the help they can get from the next Congress.