Perhaps this can cut through the ideological smog of those still denying climate change. Four former administrators of the Environmental Protection Agency have gone public to promulgate a message via the New York Times: “The United States must move now on substantive steps to curb climate change, at home and internationally.” So said William D. Ruckelshaus, Lee M. Thomas, William K. Reilly and Christine Todd Whitman. The presidents they served: Republicans all–namely, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Editorial pages around the country, including this market, have published it.
The EPA Four support a market-based approach, such as a carbon tax, but acknowledge that’s now a non-starter in politically gridlocked Washington. However, they do look favorably upon President Obama’s recent climate action plan that calls for tougher restrictions on carbon emissions from new and existing power plants. He would also invest $8 billion next year for clean energy research and development and commit additional billions in grants and loan guarantees to promote, among other things, renewal energy and “green” construction.
But–and this sounds infuriatingly familiar–the implications for Florida are minimal. That’s because this state has no renewable energy standards. It has no master plan for diversifying its energy mix. Natural gas is fine, thank you. Solar energy in the Sunshine State remains a light year away. Florida is not serious about partnering with the private sector.
So, forget about federal “Obamadollars.” What’s another jobs bill to a tax-donor state that’s already turned its back on serious rail and Medicaid money? But this time it’s about more than employment, infrastructure, the economy of the future and whatever is meant by quality of life. It’s about saving us from ourselves.