EPA Move to Curb Carbon Trumps Copenhagen

No matter what happens in Copenhagen, the Obama administration is preparing to make a move to curb greenhouse gases at home that has businesses up in arms. As early as today the EPA is expected to announce that carbon dioxide has officially been classified as a dangerous pollutant, meaning that the EPA can regulate its emission even without action from Congress.

Business groups aren't happy. It “could result in a top-down command-and-control regime that will choke off growth,” the head of the US Chamber of Commerce told the Wall Street Journal. But the EPA says it only intends to target big emitters—those putting out 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide or more a year. Under the Clean Air Act, it has the power to regulate those emitting as little as 250 tons. (More carbon dioxide stories.)