the right view on environmental & energy policy
TRANSCRIPT
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The Right View on Environmental & Energy Policy
Leo P. DombrowskiSanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP
Chicago Bar AssociationSeptember 27, 2012
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“Nationally, average ozone levels declined in the 1980's, leveled off in the 1990's, and showed a notable decline after 2002.”
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“Nationally, average SO2 concentrations have decreased substantially over the years.”
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“Nationally, average PM concentrations have decreased over the years.”
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“Nationally, average NO2 concentrations have decreased substantially over the years.”
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CHANGES IN AMBIENT AND EMISSIONS LEVELS
Ambient Emissions
Pollutant Ambient Emissions
Carbon Monoxide (CO) -79% -58%
Ozone* (O3) -28% -49%
Lead (Pb) -92% -96%
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) -52% -40%
Particulates (PM10) -38% -46%
Fine Particulates (PM2.5)
-21% -36%
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) -83% -56%
* The emission measure here is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a principal
ozone precursor Source: EPA
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AIR QUALITY SUCCESSES
• The improvement in air quality is the greatest public policy success story of the last generation.
• Almost the entire country has achieved clean air standards for four of the six criteria pollutants, with exception of ozone and particulates.
• With ozone and particulates, the areas of the nation with the highest pollution levels have shown the greatest improvement.
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AIR QUALITY SUCCESSES
• The chief factor—technology. • Regulations also play important role in
innovations, but many are result of market forces and economic growth.
• EPA’s computer models predict 60% decline in emissions from cars and trucks over next 20 years from fleet turnover.
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OBAMA’S EPA
• GHG Regulations—have to use commercially unavailable carbon capture technology.
• Mercury and Air Toxics Rule (Utility MACT) and Cross State Air Pollution Rule
• New Ozone Standards--$90 billion in costs and would force 450 counties into non-attainment
• Boiler MACT.
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LOSS OF POWER
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OBAMA’S EPA
• Costs too high for little or no benefit.• EPA applies “No-Threshold” Standard—all
emissions cause health effects at any level.• Should use “health-based” standard,
recognizes that a level exists below which exposure does not pose health risk.
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ENERGY POLICY
• According to the Congressional Research Service, U.S. has most fossil fuel resources of any country, but most of these resources are off-limits due to federal policies.
• Our energy resources, along with expected future discoveries, have been calculated to last us 400 years at current usage rates.
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ENERGY POLICY
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ENERGY POLICY
• Restrictions on development of oil, natural gas, and coal have created energy shortage over last 40 years.
• Obama’s/EPA’s War on Coal: “What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there. So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.”
• “Somehow we have to figure out a way to boost the price of gasoline to levels in Europe.” [$9-$11/gal.] Steven Chu—Secretary of Energy
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ENERGY POLICY
• Obama rescinded Bush executive order permitting drilling on continental shelf.
• Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar cancelled oil and gas leases on federal lands.
• Restricted offshore drilling leases.• Made more federal land designated
wilderness areas and off limits.• Blocked Keystone Pipeline.
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KEYSTONE PIPELINE/SPILLAGE?
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NATURAL GAS
• Natural gas production is booming on state and private lands, but total production on federal land has fallen more than 30 percent over the last decade.
• Proportion of gas produced on federal land has fallen from 35 percent in 2003 to just above 20 percent today.
• Fracking regulations after election?
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NATURAL GAS
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SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY
• COAL 42.2%• NATURAL GAS 24.8%• NUCLEAR 19.2%• HYDROELECTRIC 7.9%• WIND 2.9%• BIOMASS 1.4%• PETROLEUM 0.7%• GEOTHERMAL 0.4%• SOLAR 0. 04%
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SOURCES OF ALL ENERGY
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ENERGY SUBSIDIES
• Total federal subsidies in 2010 were :• For solar power, $775.64 per megawatt hour• Wind $56.29• Nuclear $3.14• Hydroelectric power $0.82• Coal $0.64 • Natural gas and petroleum liquids $0.64.• Electricity costs around $100 per megawatt hour
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TOO MUCH LAND
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THE MYTH OF “GREEN JOBS”
• 2011 study by the Brookings Institution—more green jobs, 2.7 million (Clean Economy), than jobs in fossil fuel industry, 2.4 million.
• 24,294 jobs in wind power (0.9%) and 24,152 jobs in solar power (0.89%).
• Two largest categories of “green jobs” are Waste Management and Treatment (386,116) and Public Mass Transit (350,547) (27% of total). Organic Food and Farming adds 129,956.
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80 BY 50
• To meet greenhouse gas stability target—80% reduction in CO2 emissions by the year 2050 by the whole world.
• Reduce fossil fuel use in U.S. to 1910 level, when country had population of 92 million, and was about 2% of today’s economy.
• By 2050 U.S. will have 400 million people—meeting emissions reduction target means per capita emissions would be 2.4 tons of CO2.
• Haiti? Somalia?
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ENVIRO CRIMES
• Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.• “Chemophobia”; led to ban of DDT in late
1960s.• Complete ban unnecessary; contributed to
deaths of millions from malaria in developing world.
• Never a human carcinogen; damage to wildlife can be mitigated through careful use.
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ENVIRO CRIMES
• WHO/ NYT editorial page have called for reintroduction of DDT in the developing world.
• Use of DDT eradicated malaria in U.S. • Why deny the developing world the same
tools?
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ENVIRO CRIMES
• NYT’s Tina Rosenberg 2004 article “What the World Needs Now Is DDT”
• Rosenberg: “In her 297 pages, Rachel Carson never mentioned the fact that by the time she was writing, DDT was responsible for saving tens of millions of lives, perhaps hundreds of millions.”
• “DDT killed bald eagles because of its persistence in the environment. Silent Spring is now killing African children because of its persistence in the public mind.”
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ENVIRO CRIMES
• WHO: between 250,000 to 500,000 children become blind every year due to vitamin A deficiency, half die within a year of becoming blind.
• Golden Rice—genetically modified form of rice that contains beta-carotene. BC is converted to vitamin A; important for eyesight, immune system, and general good health.
• Developed in 1998; numerous studies show golden rice can eliminate vitamin A deficiency.
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ENVIRO CRIMES
• Greenpeace and its allies have successfully blocked the introduction of golden rice, claiming it may have “environmental and health risks.” Pandora’s Box! Trojan Horse!
• Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore called it “Greenpeace's Crime Against Humanity.”