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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Environmental Protection Agency was blocked Thursday from issuing a permit for a proposed coal-burning power plant in Utah without addressing global warming. The ruling by an agency appeals panel means the Obama administration probably will determine the fate of other similar plants.
The panel said the EPA's Denver office failed to adequately support its decision to issue a permit for the Bonanza plant without requiring controls on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas.
The matter was sent back to that office, which must better explain why it failed to order limits on carbon dioxide. This is ''an issue of national scope that has implications far beyond this individual permitting process,'' the panel said.
EPA spokesman Jonathan Shrader said the agency was reviewing the ruling by the appeals panel, which traditionally gives great deference to agency decisions. He declined to say how many other coal plant permits might be affected.
Environmentalist and lawyers representing industry groups said the ruling stops the permitting of perhaps as many as 100 coal plants.
''In essence this is a punt to the Obama administration. ... All permits in the pipeline are now stymied,'' said Jason Hutt, a lawyer who represents a number of utilities, merchant energy developers and refineries seeking permits. He said it also would affect permits for oil refinery expansion.
Rest here.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/wash...in&oref=slogin
Given that The Messiah is a big time drinker of AGW Kool-Ade, this essentially means energy costs go through the roof in the coming years, Peak Cheap Oil or no.
The panel said the EPA's Denver office failed to adequately support its decision to issue a permit for the Bonanza plant without requiring controls on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas.
The matter was sent back to that office, which must better explain why it failed to order limits on carbon dioxide. This is ''an issue of national scope that has implications far beyond this individual permitting process,'' the panel said.
EPA spokesman Jonathan Shrader said the agency was reviewing the ruling by the appeals panel, which traditionally gives great deference to agency decisions. He declined to say how many other coal plant permits might be affected.
Environmentalist and lawyers representing industry groups said the ruling stops the permitting of perhaps as many as 100 coal plants.
''In essence this is a punt to the Obama administration. ... All permits in the pipeline are now stymied,'' said Jason Hutt, a lawyer who represents a number of utilities, merchant energy developers and refineries seeking permits. He said it also would affect permits for oil refinery expansion.
Rest here.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/wash...in&oref=slogin
Given that The Messiah is a big time drinker of AGW Kool-Ade, this essentially means energy costs go through the roof in the coming years, Peak Cheap Oil or no.
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