Senator McCain is among those who advocate a tough regimen for restraining greenhouse gases to slow climate change. Skeptics have argued that his legislation with Senator Lieberman would do great harm to the economy, at a time when economic growth is quite fragile. Carter Wood writes about the costs of controlling ozone emissions in Atlanta:
The benefits are questionable, the costs clear, and they are enormous…The proposed rule change would cost the Atlanta metro $143.8 billion and 165,200 jobs. The Administration’s decision to change the ozone rule will be made in D.C., but its impacts will be felt across Georgia. Atlanta’s economic strength is needlessly being put to the test – EPA’s own estimates show that ozone levels have decreased 21 percent from 1980-2006.
Is it really necessary to add such a significant level of new regulation now?
