Here we go, once again, with the political side of pollution. Not long after midterm elections the Bush administration announced changes to the Clean Air Act, a loosening up of federal regulations on power plants. Some say these changes are simply a payback to the power industry for its generous campaign donations.
The industry says no, the old regulatory system is inefficient and economic incentives are the fix needed to get power plants to reduce pollution. It is, though, a new market-based approach to clean air.
Environmentalists say changing the rules will bring about a stratospheric increase in emission levels, and argue that tough enforcement is the only threat that brings results. Clean Air and Clear skies, cutting through the fog.
Guests:
Eric Schaeffer, director of the Environmental Integrity Project at the Rockefeller Family Fund
Scott Segal, spokesman for the Electric Reliability Coordination Council.