Obama Triggers Blackouts ?

Obama triggers outages, (AP) - More than a dozen new industrial facilities to federal control of air pollution and greenhouse gases responsible for global warming after a senior EPA official told a federal court of a long delay in central California would not escape to meet rules.

The reversal of the EPA is Obama under fire from Republicans for a host of new regulations on air pollution that they say will kill jobs and projects. Republican leaders in the House and Senate on Wednesday unveiled legislation to prevent the agency from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. It is the latest in a string of legislative initiatives aimed at undermining the EPA.

"This means a change in the position of the EPA has taken in this case," EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy said in the document was filed in U. S. District Court Monday. In a statement, the agency said it was neither fair nor appropriate for devices with applications in the last phase of the evaluation standards that have recently entered into force requirements.

About 10 to 20 installations of hundreds waiting for pollution permits may be exempted from new rules, the EPA said. But it is unclear how much the threshold would be to control global warming gases trigger encountered.

In recent years the office has set new limits on nitrogen oxides contribute to smog and sulfur dioxide that causes acid rain and is linked to many respiratory diseases. And a month ago, the first rules for emissions of global warming from large factories and power plants came into force.

"It creates a strong argument for treating the same way we treat this man," said Michael Gerrard, professor of environmental law at Columbia University and former chairman of the Department of Environment of the American Bar Association, review the document. Gerrard said the move "is part of the administration's efforts do not stop or be accused of arresting too many new projects."

The EPA initially told the court that Avenal Power Center, LLC, in central California would have to prove that its 600-megawatt plant fueled by natural gas would not be a violation of a new standard for the origin nitrogen oxides in smog. The company sued the travel agency to take too long to decide on the permit, she was initially in February 2008.

EPA officials downplayed the decision and said it does not affect their attitude towards the global fight against pollution.

But Clean Air Watch President Frank O'Donnell has called "a disturbing reversal of policy."

"It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that this change is at least partly intended to blunt the political attacks," said O'Donnell. "But it can stimulate appetite and business people who want Congress to block health and environmental standards. "