How to Count the Carbon

An idea recently rejected by the Bush administration, the Environmental Protection Agency is contemplating placing carbon dioxide on the list of pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. The EPA's "findings" determine that there are six new pollutants that should be added to the list and meet the criteria as defined in the Clean Air Act.

As the earth's climate warms, it adversely effects many aspects of everyday life. Understanding their obligations, the Obama administration went straight to work on the U.S.' environmental legislation that so heavily effect climate change. The new president's plan proposes jobs be created for green industry and renewable energy. Although Obama's proposed plan is an environmentalist's dream initiative, economists seem to be second-guessing his ability to properly balance priorities during such a deep recession.


The costs of implementing best available technologies, as required by the CAA, is not as easy as it seems. Industries, vehicles, agriculture and businesses emit carbon dioxide, creating different compliance issues for each category. According to the EPA, carbon dioxide emissions in the coal industry are 40 percent of the nation's total emissions. The same report concluded that coal accounts for 93 percent of the emissions from the electric utility industry. If carbon was regulated, most of the country's power plants would have to temporarily shut down until best available technologies can be achieved.

Affordable energy is already a major issue in the United States and if regulated entities incorporated new costs, coal powered, carbon dioxide regulated energy would be nearly impossible for home owners and commercial industries to afford. During times of economic uncertainty, stringent regulations establish limits on development. Adding carbon dioxide may just create a panic for recession-stricken industries.

As of right now, 18 states seek to cap carbon dioxide emissions for industry and 25 have supported proposals for renewable energy. As proven to work in Europe, the system would allow "companies that produce emissions below a mandatory cap {to} earn carbon credits — which they can then sell to companies that don’t meet the cap. " People like to have choices and limits on development, such as those that would are influenced the CAA, prove to only inhibit economic growth. Through market-based incentives, the government, the workforce and the environment can coexist sustainably to combat air quality control issues.