A suit currently before the US Supreme court asks for (actually demands) regulation of CO₂ emissions by the EPA. The current administration is claiming that they "don't have the authority," although existing Federal regulations do appear to give them that authority. The current administration has also said that "even if we have the authority we won't." (Because global warming is a myth.)

At this point, the Court is examining whether any of the parties to the suit can prove they suffer damage due to the lack of regulation, and the real questions may get tossed on that basis - especially if the administration lawyers' contention that "CO₂ is good for you" are accepted by the Court.

The Kansas Legislature has a request for approval for three new coal-fired generating plants that are currently being "studied by the Legislature." This "study phase" will likely continue until all their buddies who can absorb study money are stuffed, and can't think of anything else to study (a feature of the Kansas Legislature); but the proposal has attracted a lot of opposition from the public.

Unfortunately, most of the public opposition seems based on the incidental fact that the market for the generating capacity is Colorado, and Kansans are extremely resistant to "being used" in this way.

The real objection to these plants is that they propose to meet the minimum existing standards for emmisions and other environmental damage. In the absence of Federal regulation of emissions (including CO₂ but also several other nasties), there is no way to predict "how to build" now, to meet possible new regulations over the 30+ year life of a new power generating plant. The plans for these three generators are "betting on" the Fed granting "grandfathering exemptions" to existing plants, and are being rushed to "beat the rules."

Bet Me? As soon as the Legislature runs out of "study money" they'll get their permit. Current legislators will get all the "study money" back as campaign donations.

The cynic from Kansas now yields the floor. (With apologies for the rants.)

But with the added congratulations for the prior recognition in this thread that "individual solutions" only work for the lucky individuals.

John