According to USA Today, on Thursday the United States Senate rejected a measure that seeks to block the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule regarding limiting air pollution that crosses state lines.
The EPA's rule requires coal plants in 27 different states to cut emissions that cross state lines. The effort to stop this rule failed in the Senate after a 56 senators opposed the effort and 41 supported it. The measure is being sponsored by Sen. Ran Paul (R-Kentucky), who claims it will kill jobs. Here are some facts about the rule and the current opposition against and support for it:
* According to the EPA, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule requires a total of 27 states to improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that lead to ozone and particulate pollution in other states.
* The rule was officially finalized on July 6, 2011, and replaces the EPA's 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule.
* Although Sen. Paul's measure was backed by the Tea Party, it received opposite from East Coast Republican senators who wanted to keep Midwestern power plant emissions out of their states, reported the Huffington Post.
* Opponents of the rule argue that the costs for power companies to comply with the rule will cost about $2.4 billion in addition to killing jobs in the already strained economy.
* However, the EPA is estimating between $120 billion and $280 billion in annual health and environmental benefits.
* President Barack Obama had already expressed opposition and even threatened to veto Sen. Paul's measure if it ever made its way to his desk after being approved by congress, according to the Miami Herald.
* The Senate's vote against the measure this Thursday, which was opposed by six Republicans and 50 Democrats, has been praised by environmental and health groups, including the American Lung Association.
* In early October, the EPA planned on easing the rule and allowing certain states and companies to emit more pollutants that initially outlined in July, noted an MSNBC article.
* The changes proposed by the EPA included increasing the allowed amount of emissions from power plants, with changes ranging from 1 percent to 4 percent above the original requirement.
* NOLA reported that the State of Louisiana reached out to the EPA about the problems associated with the rule, specifically saying that it could lead to rolling blackouts in the state next summer.
* Additionally, state officials expressed their criticism of the rule, saying that Louisiana's power plants should be completely exempt and not be part of the 27 states affected by it.
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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