Carper Puts Onus On Utilities To Unite On Push For 'Multipollutant' Bill

摘要

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), a leading proponent of "multipollutant" legislation to curb power plant emissions, says that the fate of such a bill this year hinges largely on whether a divided power plant industry can reach a unified position in favor of moving multipollutant legislation to provide utilities with certainty on their emission limits. Senate sources have said that it could be all but impossible to pass in the 112th Congress long-touted multipollutant legislation to limit utilities' emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and mercury. Republicans might use the bill as a vehicle to weaken EPA utility air rules — a move likely to prompt opposition from Democrats. As a result, these sources say a stalemate is likely to emerge that results in no bill passing Congress.