Utility Companies in Europe Given 10 years to reduce emmissions, U.S. Utilities still have free ride

We noticed this article out of Europe. The Utility Companies of the Western World have had, essentially a "free ride" on emmissions and environmental standards for the past 10 years. (In Texas, for example, the Governor, Rick Perry, has filed suit on the EPA saying that Texas does not have to comply with Federal Law and EPA standards. This will certainly be a lost effort, but will tied it up in court for many years).

Lack of action is primarily due to large contributions and political efforts, on the part of the utility industry, especially in the USA, to not enforce, or to weaken environmental standards.

Finally in Europe, they are slowly, re-regulating environmental standards, to create positive health benefits as well as good environmental policy.

While there has been much talk about emmissions standards in the USA, realistically, little tangible results have been seen yet. We can only hope, that when the people finally see the high levels of lung disease downwind of the nations coal and other industrial plants, that we should again enforce our present EPA laws, and create stricter standards for emmissions.

Polls show that 90% of Americans want clean air, the public simply doesn't make the large contributions that big industry does. Perhaps we can follow the example of our friends in Europe.

Global Perspectives

Power stations of Europe given until 2020 to meet emissions rules

7/9/2010 10:24:04 AM

Fossil fuel power stations have been given a decade to comply with the next phase of European Union pollution rules.

The European Parliament's Industrial Emissions Directive which was passed earlier this week, includes stricter limits on nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and dust emissions and will be introduced in 2016.

Older plants are not required to meet the targets, as long as they close by the end of 2023 or after 17,500 hours. Newer plants must still meet the 2012 deadline that applies to them.

The MEPs have also allowed a degree of flexibility, which will enable member states to use "transitional national plans" allowing them to extend deadlines until July 2020.

Holger Krahmer, the MEP responsible for guiding the legislation through Parliament, commented: "After more than two years of difficult negotiations we have a compromise that will help to improve the implementation of the directive. Compared to the current situation, this offers more clarity and a better chance of a level playing field across Europe on environmental requirements for industrial installations."

This month, plans for a new green power plant which could supply energy to 85,000 homes were proposed for Blackrod in Lancashire.