EPA finds GHGs endanger humans

From the New York Times:

The Environmental Protection Agency has moved to declare that greenhouse gases are pollutants that pose a danger to the public’s health and welfare. That determination, once made final, will pave the way for federal regulation of carbon dioxide, methane and other heat-trapping gases linked to global warming.

This endangerment finding is significant because it triggers the Clean Air Act and "would allow federal regulation of motor vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases. If further action is taken by the E.P.A., it could open the door to regulatory controls over power plants, oil refineries, cement plants and other factories that emit such gases."

This is happening at the same time that the Maryland legislation is being considered in the House, after passing in the Senate. The MD legislation exempts manufacturing.

Representative Ed Markey stated that "this finding will officially end the era of denial on global warming.” But I doubt this could be true since we are still fighting over evolution. But if the finding marginalizes the anti-science wackadoos further, so that we win more of the people in the middle, then hooray!

The Obama Administration is already counting on revenue from a Cap-and-Trade system, so the deck has been stacked. Expect more findings and decisions to start rolling out.