A Houston Chronicle business columnist argues in defense of the Obama Administration's new environmental rules.
Chris Tomlinson writes an op-ed calling for the state government of Texas to support the Clean Power Plan recently announced by the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency. A string of rhetorical question introduces the topic by bringing it close to home: "Do you want your children one day working in a coal mine? Or how about a job washing and pulverizing coal? Or maybe operating the machinery that feeds coal into boilers?"
Tomlinson describes the Clean Power Plan as effective (i.e., it "would likely cut by half our reliance on coal to generate electricity in 2030 when compared with 2005) as well as incremental (i.e., " We're a fifth of the way there already, and the new mandates aren't even in force yet).
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, however, has promised to fight the plan in federal court, thus inspiring the op-ed from Tomlinson, who notes the conservative political arguments that the Clean Power Rule is a threat to liberty that over-steps the original intent of the federal Clean Air Act. Tomnlinson's response to that argument: "The 2,500-page Clean Power Plan is neither the answer to environmentalists' prayers nor a socialist takeover of the economy. It actually empowers states to develop their own plans to limit the amount of carbon dioxide produced per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated."
FULL STORY: Cutting use of coal could be a boon for Texas

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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