DomKen -> RE: EPA Rules Force Shell to Abandon Oil Drilling Plans (4/28/2011 3:06:57 PM)
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ORIGINAL: jlf1961 Actually, the EPA has to grant permits for the construction of new refineries, as well as permits for the modernization and repair to existing refineries. In some recent cases, the EPA standards were not as strict as local air quality standards. However, since congress did not pass new GHG legislation, the Obama administration did use authority of the Clean Air Act to tighten regulations on GHG's which in effect has made it harder for new refineries to get permits to build. Texas Officials, EPA Clash over GHGs While I am all for environmental protection, and will agree that clean air technology has not kept pace with the industry, I will also state that with the industry footing the R&D cost for clean air technology is a bit unfair. Other governments that have signed the Kyoto accords have helped foot the bill for clean air technology, and the US (which has not ratified the Kyoto agreement) leaves the cost to the industry. These oil companies operate worldwide so if they have the clean air technology to operate refineries in the Netherlands, home nation of Shell for instance, then we don't need to fund their R&D here. As a general principle governments should not be funding the R&D or the regulatory compliance efforts of some of the most profitable companies in the world.
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