Yesterday, reports Robin Bravender of ClimateWire on the New York Times website, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson denied GOP requests for the agency to redo their economic analysis of the Waxman-Markey climate change legislation. According to the report, Jackson believes the Department of Energy has already answered any outstanding questions.Bravender reports that Senators James Inhofe and George Voinovich asked for a revised study of the House bill because, in their view, the previous study gave an incomplete analysis of the major provisions and their potential impact on individual consumers and households, and the economy as a whole. To read Bravender’s article click here.
The two senators, who happen to hold the top two Republican slots on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, wanted the agency to include in a reference case the most recent data from the Energy Information Administrations 2009 Annual Energy Outlook, as well as economic projections from the administration’s budget. They also wanted included an analysis of various situations where “low-carbon energy sources are constrained.”
The previous analysis by the EPA found US households could expect to pay $80 to $111 per year as a result of the legislation. Jackson believes the recent study of the bill conducted by the Energy Information Administration answers the Senators inquiries. Senator Inhofe disagrees with Administrator Jackson’s view of the Energy Information Administration study.
The EPA expects to conduct another economic study once Senator Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, produces legislation that differs from the House bill. For his part, Senator Voinovich has stated that he will not remove his “hold” on the Senate confirmation of EPA Deputy Administrator nominee Robert Perciasepes until the study is conducted.
To read the Senator’s letter to the EPA click here.
To read Administrator Jackson’s response click here.
Posted: 08/07/09
