Obama orders new rules on coal-fired plants, sets condition for Keystone pipeline

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: FoxNews.com

Published June 25, 2013 / FoxNews.com

President Obama pressed ahead Tuesday with his climate change agenda, calling for new regulations on coal-fired power plants and setting a new condition for the approval of the controversial Keystone pipeline.
....

Going around Congress and unveiling what was likely to be his most controversial plank, Obama said he was ordering the Environmental Protection Agency to create the first-ever carbon emissions limits for existing power plants.
....

Further, Obama weighed in for the first time in months on the contentious issue of the proposed Canada-to-Texas Keystone pipeline. As the State Department reviews the stalled project, Obama said it should only be approved if it doesn't significantly boost emissions.

"Our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution," he said. "The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/25/obama-to-unveil-new-climate-regulations-as-adviser-pushes-war-on-coal/

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I thought for sure that this would cause coal stock Cliffs Natural Resources to nosedive today, just as it did yesterday. Oddly, it was up in the afternoon.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=CLF&ql=0

Disclaimer: I own some shares of stock that will be affected by this news. I am not posting this story for any reason other than its news value, though.

[OnyxCollie]

1. Keystone XL will have "conditions," so it'll be OK.

Just like the domestic spying has "oversight."

[truebrit71]

8. Yup, that's his signal that it's a done deal...

...and if carbon emissions increase (surprise surprise) or the damn thing ruptures and poisons the Oglala Aquifer he can always lay the blame off on the State Dept....which is also his plan...

Yay!!

[blkmusclmachine]

14. +1. Keystone is a done deal.

Now Obama just has to sell it.

[zeemike]

15. That is what that speech was

The sales pitch...they are going to promise us it will be all right...and if you don't believe it you are a racist...or maybe an eco terrorist...
But there was never any doubt in my mind that it would be approved....to much big money invested it it...they are going to sell that oil to the world no matter what we think or what damage it does.

[SunSeeker]

2. Ug. Why use a foxnews link and give them the clicks?

Even CNN would have been better.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/25/politics/obama-climate-change/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[Javaman]

4. Also here at NBC

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/25/19135726-obama-no-time-for-flat-earth-society-on-climate-change?lite

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. CNN is not really better, unfortunately.

[SunSeeker]

9. I would welcome a better link from you for this thread. nt

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

12. O.K., maybe only MARGINALLY better, but not much. ;)

[BanTheGOP]

16. DU should have a MORATORIUM on Fox News and other website links for general news

I'm talking about general news links and other links that can be obtained by neutral and other progressive sources. Obviously, if we are citing about something stupid that someone from a oppressive website like Fox puts out, then of course we have to include that link. But I think the mods should have the power to change a general purpose link, as we certainly don't want to increase the hit count (and ad revenue) for those bastards.

[SunSeeker]

17. I would think it should be something any DUer would do regardless.

Seems that it's just implied in the TOS. But it would probably be helpful to have it spelled out.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Did he just approve the project if the corporations promise to meet some emission standard?

There are more issues to look at on this project than just emissions.

[Doctor_J]

6. I link to Fox "News" for news???

WTF has happened to DU? Did you get paid to post this?

[nineteen50]

7. The environmental president

no mention of fracking, sets the stage for approval of xl pipeline and CALLS for regulations. 7 years of CALLS FOR just hot air and no movement.

[Kolesar]

18. Hey nineteen

read a newspaper

[nineteen50]

22. Hey Kolesar

read a recent history of this administration.

[Kolesar]

23. Send in the clowns.

you fell off the wire.
Time for a distraction

[nineteen50]

24. and I thought

he was already here.

[djean111]

10. I don't think "emissions" are the problem, so much as leaks and spills and breaks.

Unless he was being subtle and implying that leaks are emissions....?
Don't think so. Think Keystone was always a done deal, leaks and breaks be damned.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. While the non-decision on the pipeline is annoying, this is important news

and if he can do this without Congress, it could achieve something.

BBC commentary:

Finally, 16 years after the global agreement to tackle climate change in the Kyoto Protocol, the world can see how the US intends to play its part. It may be cutting CO2 only 4% on 1990 levels by 2020 - less than a fifth of the amount achieved in the EU - but this is at least a plan, and some of the US green think-tanks are grateful for it.

But this is part of what the White House calls an "all of the above" strategy which includes new efficiency standards on trucks, electrical appliances and government buildings - a change that will lift the US out of the 1950s design age; a reduction in short-lived greenhouse gases like methane and soot; a further doubling of wind power, especially on public land; future-proofing infrastructure against climate damages and more.

There are things to upset environmentalists, like the absence of any commitment to drop Keystone XL and the continuing support for biofuels. Nor is the plan as precisely quantified as the UK's climate policy, for instance, which commits to methodically cutting emissions through to 2050. But if the president has the stomach for a legal fight over bypassing Congress on coal, if he's willing to impose extra measures in a few years and if his policies don't get overturned, today's announcement could help the US achieve its international carbon pledges up to 2020. That would be a start.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23032890

[PSPS]

13. "sets conditions" = caves again, as usual

President Empty Suit

[Civilization2]

19. "significantly exacerbate the problem" really, that is the standard? Pathetic!

What a monumental cave to corporate power.

Ca$h moves everything around me,. . get the money, dollar, dollar bill y'all.

[DCBob]

20. Many of the comments here totally ignore all the good things in this speech..

and focus on one item and continue the unrelentless bashing of the President. Its really getting tiresome.

[Nihil]

25. Many of the comments here totally ignore all the real things in this speech..

and focus on one item and continue the unrelentless cheerleading for the President. Its really getting tiresome.

Oops. Am I out of step with the ra-ra gang?

[Sunlei]

21. a link to the full White House press release-remarks-president-climate-change

The White House, the actual sourse.

http://www.whitehouse.gov//the-press-office/2013/06/25/remarks-president-climate-change