The Day the Earth Stood Still: EPA Says CO2 a Threat to Human Health, Paves Way For Backdoor Tax on All Sectors of U.S. Economy
ShareThisApril 17, 2009· 2 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2009
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The Day the Earth Stood Still: EPA Says CO2 a Threat to Human Health, Paves Way For Backdoor Tax on All Sectors of U.S. Economy
Washington, D.C.—Institute for Energy Research (IER) president Thomas J. Pyle today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that carbon dioxide is a threat to human health and welfare, and as such: must be regulated, rationed and restricted by the federal government.
“Carbon is lighter than oxygen, more abundant than nitrogen, and forms the basis of all human, plant and animal life on earth. At least it did yesterday. Today, it’s a danger to human health and, upon meeting air, a clear and present threat to our existence. That was the pronouncement made by the EPA today, and it will be one this generation and others that follow will not soon forget.
“In defending today’s decision, EPA was quick to promise that the rationing of carbon dioxide would only have limited application. This is incorrect. EPA will start by issuing new regulations on cars. Next will come restrictions on stationary sources. After that: the wholesale regulation of anything that uses oil, natural gas, or coal. And it won’t end there. If carbon dioxide is deemed a threat, other greenhouse gases like water, vapor and methane must be too.
“While the American people will need to wait a few more months to see how today’s announcement manifests itself in their daily lives, we know one thing for sure: EPA is about to become the largest, most powerful and most distended government agency in American history. And that alone should give every American who has a job, or may want one in the future, reason for serious concern.”
More from IER on the dangers of broad EPA regulation of CO2:
- Study: Eight reasons why cap and trade harms the economy and reduces jobs
- Release: Road to Serfdom: Climate Bill Envisions Future with Less Energy, Fewer Jobs
- Blog: The Size of President Obama’s Massive Energy Tax Grows Larger
The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER maintains that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society.
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www.InstituteforEnergyResearch.org
April 19th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Welcome to the dark ages! Now the foundation of life, CO2, has been declared to be a pollutant. What will the plants say when their food is called a pollutant? Are they going to plug the edges of the tectonic plates to stop its emission by volcanos? What are they going to do when lightning strike start forest fire and release CO2? Oh, I forgot, what about animal exhalation? This is delusion, mysticism, and herd bolting. Aristotle, master of logic, please come and save us!
April 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
CO2 is hardly the foundation of life. Carbon might be, but certainly not carbon dioxide. In the same way Mr. Pyle cleverly framed his remarks, the opposite framing is possible. CO2 is toxic to all life in certain concentrations. It is responsible for thousands of deaths annually through suffocation, smoke inhalation, and climate related drought, flood, and heat.
People, get real. We understand the CO2 molecule. We know how it causes heat to be trapped in the atmosphere. We know that it is at a concentration not seen in the last 600,000 years. We know that elevated CO2 mirrors climactic changes and subsequent ice ages. We know that man contributes billions of tons of it to the atmosphere annually. 1+1+1+1+1 has to equal 5. The folks who run dirty energy companies might not like it, but their heyday is over, and a transition to cleaner sources of energy is inevitable. I guess we can’t fault them for trying to protect their business, but lying to the public should be criminal and punishable.