"Abandoned by Congress, State Regulators Push for U.S. Carbon Cap"

"Congress has 'left state regulators in the lurch' by failing to set new national climate policy that could guide regulators' decisions on the fate of coal-fired electric power generators in their states, the new chairman of a task force on climate policy says.

Ron Binz, who heads the climate task force of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), said in an interview that U.S. EPA will provide some help for state officials next year to fill the vacuum created by Congress' inaction.

EPA is preparing to tighten restrictions on interstate air pollution from power plants under its planned "transport" rule. It will open a second front when it regulates greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired generators, based on its endangerment finding on the threat posed by man-made greenhouse gases in the atmosphere."

Peter Behr reports for ClimateWire August 16, 2010.