Wednesday, April 04, 2007

• Supreme Court Joins Hot Air Debate

  The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate carbon emissions.  The case was the first of its kind before the Supreme Court.  The decision was 5-4, with Justices Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia dissenting.

  The EPA, under the direction of the Bush administration, has declined to regulate greenhouse gas emissions that supposedly contribute to global warming.  The ruling defines carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses as pollutants under the Clean Air Act of 1970.  The EPA can now only avoid regulating such gasses if it determines that greenhouses gasses do not contribute to climate change.

  The ruling is expected to bring further restrictions on automobile emissions, and it may burden other industries as well, which will inevitably be passed down to the consumer.

  Related

  Bush agrees with greenhouse gas ruling, sort of

  Posted by D. Price

  • 9:42 AM
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