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President Bush Feb. 14 outlined his new air-emissions policy, offering to provide tax incentives aimed at encouraging utilities and businesses to voluntarily reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
He also proposed a Clear Skies Act designed to reduce power-plant emissions, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.
Bush's climate action-plan and multi-emissions policy pleases Association of American Railroads President and Chief Executive Officer Edward Hamberger, who believes the president's stance promotes a cleaner environment and economic growth.
"Our economy depends upon electricity generated from clean, affordable coal, which provides more than half of our nation’s electricity," he said in a statement prepared Feb. 15. "Restricting the use of coal would sharply curtail economic growth while, at the same time, increase the nation’s dependence on foreign energy sources."
Hamberger claims that during the past 30 years, sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-burning plants declined 30 percent, while coal used to generate electricity grew 179 percent.