Home > adler, carbon pricing, EPA > Libertarian law prof. Jonathan Adler warns of CO2 regulatory runaway train that Bush bequeathed to Obama; recommends rebated carbon taxes

Libertarian law prof. Jonathan Adler warns of CO2 regulatory runaway train that Bush bequeathed to Obama; recommends rebated carbon taxes

Libertarian law professor Jonathan H. Adler, of Case University, The Volokk Conspiracy law blog and NRO contributing editor,  has a post up at NRO explaining why conservatives ought to be pushing for  a “revenue-neutral carbon tax” as the best way to head off what he sees as a looming train wreck of damaging regulatory actions by the EPA, that he argues are mandated by a recent Supreme Court ruling that. 

Here is Jon’s summary of his post:

I have an article up today explaining how the EPA is required to begin regulating greenhouse gases as a consequence of Massachusetts v. EPA.  Of potential note, the new EPA Administrator agrees, telling EPA staff in a memo that she will fulfill the agency’s “obligation” to regulate GHGs under the Clean Air Act while the Obama Administration develops new climate legislation.

Regulating greenhouse gases under existing law will be a disaster, but what’s the alternative?  I’ve endorsed the idea of a revenue-neutral carbon tax.  My friend Chris Horner thinks this is preemptive surrender, but what’s his alternative?  Absent new legislation, EPA is poised to regulate cars, trucks, factories, power plants, and much, much more.  The number of facilities covered by the PSD program alone will increase ten-fold or more without a legislative fix.  I know Horner would like a clean Clean Air Act revision, simply excising greenhouse gases.  But assumig that’s impossible — or, perhaps, once that measure fails — what is his Plan B?

Adler has posted slightly longer summary at The Volokh Conspiracy.

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