Senate defeats move to void EPA greenhouse gas rules

The Senate defeated a resolution Thursday that would have prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from using the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases.

The bill got 47 votes, short of the 51 votes needed to pass. Six Democrats joined all 41 Republicans in voting for the resolution. There were 53 Democrats who voted against the resolution.

Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the resolution would have overturned the EPA’s finding that carbon pollution poses a threat to public health and therefore is subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. Based on that finding, EPA has issued regulations that require higher fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles, and the agency has proposed forcing large stationary sources of greenhouse gases to obtain permits that specify what technologies they will use to curb these emissions.

Supporters of the resolution argued that the EPA exceeded its authority in using the Clean Air Act to address greenhouse gases, something Congress did not intend. They contend Congress, not EPA, should decide how greenhouse gases are to be regulated.

“It’s Congress’ job — not a bureaucrat’s or agency’s — to take action on carbon in a way that preserves jobs instead of running them overseas looking for cheap energy,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee.

Legislation capping carbon emissions has been pending in Congress for years. Most Republicans have opposed these bills.

Read the full story in the Washington Business Journal.