EPA tells New Mexico to bend over

It wasn't that long ago that Rep. Harry Teague voted for Waxman-Markey, HR2454, the House's version of Cap and Trade.  Many of his constituents,  including yours truly, held Harry's feet to the fire in a Town Hall Meeting using CBO and Heritage Foundation research.  As it turned out, this research was very conserative in their analyses and the actual costs will be much higher to energy consumers (all of us).

In press releases and public forums, Teague said he had built in safe-guards to protect rural energy consumers thus admitting that Waxman-Markey was heavy handed on rural areas.  What Harry didn't tell us was that the whole state of New Mexico is getting screwed by the EPA.  I thought Bill Richardson had connections in DC but apparently not in this case.

Please click on the title to access an EPA document that shows estimated emissions by state for 2012 in the first column.  The last column shows estimates of what will be allowed by Waxman-Markey.  Please note California's numbers.  It will be allowed an almost 50% increase in emissions thus creating unused credits that can be sold to other states, like New Mexico, whose allowed emissions are reduced.  It is no coincidence that Waxman is from California.

Now, let's take a peek at Rep. Markey, MA, member of Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.  Here is his website http://markey.house.gov/

By now you shouldn't be surprised to know that the EPA upped Massachusett's quota, too, leaving MA with credits to sell to other less connected states.

Taking this one step further, it my opinion that you can use this chart to easily determined who pulls the strings in Congress.  If the state got extra emissions (credits) to sell, they are connected.  If the state got no change, the all powerful EPA is waiting to see how they behave, not towards the environment but politically and punish or reward accordingly.  If the state, such as New Mexico, got a net reduction they are being punished if for no other reason than being low population and therefore with minimal impact and de minimus campaign contributions.

So, thanks a lot Harry for building in the protections for rurals dwellers while the whole state is being economically punished.  This is exactly the kind of activity that is killing New Mexico.