Climate Change
As the scientific and political debates surrounding climate change morph from a legislative draw, to the activist regulatory strategy under the direction of the US Environmental Protection Agency, we encourage all Americans to stay actively involved in this issue. The results of this process will likely have a profound effect on each American’s life.
To be sure, addressing climate change will not be easy, and it will be costly. The “cap and trade” bill that barely passed the US House in 2009 required that US carbon emissions be cut by 17% in 2020, and by 80% by 2050. All studies on the impact of this legislation warned that energy costs would significantly increase and that American jobs would be lost. Since political control of the US House shifted shortly after passage of this legislation, it appears that the United States, and much of the rest of the world, has concluded that too much is still unknown about climate change and the appropriate policy responses each country should consider, if any. What climate change proponents call “delay,” many others believe just makes “common sense.”
In the US, comprehensive climate change legislation has likely been halted for the next several years while Congress, reflecting the popular will, takes time to fully consider all the facts and options. There are some in Washington, however, who are not willing to participate in a transparent and objective review of this complex issue. They are, instead, intent on using the broad regulatory powers of the federal government pursuant to a statute (the Clean Air Act) that all sides regard as ill-suited for this purpose, and which impose policies that have not withstood the scrutiny of the Congress.
Surprisingly, the Administration’s USEPA is moving forward to implement an aggressive and smothering set of regulations on climate change that could fundamentally alter economic reality in America. In fact, many observers have noted that EPA’s proposed regulations of greenhouse gases could prove to be more expensive and onerous than even the comprehensive cap-and-trade concept that was ultimately rejected by Congress.
As the following chart demonstrates, USEPA is moving aggressively forward with its agenda.
US EPA’s effort to deal with climate change will profoundly affect Americans’ lives and jobs.
In recognition of this, Tesoro is convinced that Americans clearly need and will greatly benefit from an informed, ongoing discussion between our government’s leaders and the citizens for whom they work. Such a discussion must also include the active participation of Tesoro workers, families, and customers. There can be no illusions. Climate change presents hard choices with serious consequences. Although the venue of this debate appears to have shifted from Congress to the bureaucrats, the consequences for all Americans are now likely more serious — and will almost certainly be more expensive. We invite and encourage you to join us and to stay closely involved as we work to help inform and structure the best outcome possible for all concerned, and to ensure that USEPA is not allowed to so dramatically hurt American consumers and businesses.
- May 16, 2013 Act Tesoro Newsletter
- April 15, 2013 It’s official: EPA delays climate rule for new power plants
- February 11, 2013 2013 – Ground Hog Day in Washington, DC