Perry seeks halt to clean air rules
Governor says Texas economy threatened
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Monday asked President Barack Obama to use his executive authority to prevent or delay implementation of stricter pollution standards, saying they will have an “immediate and devastating” effect on the state.
The standards have stirred up Texas’ largest energy companies, which say they don’t have adequate time to meet the deadlines without shutting down plants and jeopardizing the reliability of Texas’ electric grid. Implementation of the rules starts Jan. 1.
In the letter, obtained by the Associated Press, Perry said the implementation of the Cross State Air Pollution Rules will have an “immediate and devastating effect on Texas jobs, our economy and our ability to supply the electricity our citizens, schools and employers need.”
The White House said the new standards will save lives.
“We stand behind common-sense, vital Clean Air Act protections for public health and clean air,” White House spokesman Clark Stevens said.
The new clean air rules are designed to significantly reduce smog and soot pollution by requiring 27 states, including Texas, to decrease smokestack emissions. The new guidelines apply to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, which mostly come from coal-fired plants.