EPA, Waxman-Markey Join Forces to Raise Energy Costs

New FreedomWorks member and geophysicist, Dennis Henke of Wichita, KS is testifying today before the EPA at a hearing about the regulation of CO2 – carbon dioxide, gas we all exhale and that the EPA recently declared to be a harmful greenhouse gas worthy of regulation under the Clean Air Act.    In a press release, Henke points out the faulty science and poor logic behind the ruling.

My review of the EPA’s supporting models lead me to conclude that their research scientists have failed to account for even the most simplistic variances in the hydrologic cycle (water vapor) that must be honored in order for fundamental credibility in projected temperatures due to greenhouse effects. In my opinion, the conclusions drawn in this report bear very little resemblance to the reality of the atmosphere we observe today.

The timing of the EPA hearing and recent finding is more than a little auspicious.  Congress is beginning to mark-up the dreaded Cap and Trade legislation this week, and the EPA finding (a) helps Waxma, Markey, et al justify  their haste and fear mongering and (b) lets the EPA go ahead and regulate as they see fit even if Congress drags their feet.  It’s a win all around for those who want to turn back the carbon clock.

How far back?  To 1875.  As Rep. Joe Barton explained last week, “That’s the last time American’s carbon emissions matched the goals set by the Waxman – Markey legislation.”

… you can test drive Waxman-Markey by sailing down to Haiti, because current CO2 emissions are where Waxman-Markey wants America’s to be in 2050. Radical environmentalists think such a CO2 level will be heaven on Earth, but the place that has actually achieved it is a nation swimming in bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, typhoid fever, dengue fever and malaria, with 47 percent illiteracy and a life expectancy of 49 years. So excuse me if I remain unconvinced.

I highly recommend reading the whole article.

Over at the Heritage Foundation, they’ve done the math on what Cap and Trade would mean not just for our country, but for households.  The numbers are tough to ignore.

• Reduce aggregate gross domestic product (GDP) by $9.6 trillion;
• Destroy 1,105,000 jobs on average, with peak years seeing unemployment rise by over 2,479,000 jobs;
• Raise electricity rates 90 percent after adjusting for inflation;
• Raise inflation-adjusted gasoline prices by 74 percent;
• Raise residential natural gas prices by 55 percent;

 

 

 

If you need more reasons to oppose the bill, or talking points to write letters to the editor and call your legislators, please feel free to use our Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Cap and Trade.