Rep. Mark Honadel statement for the WisPolitics Forum on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thank you Jeff Mayers, panel members and guests. I regret that I am unable to attend today’s forum due to my legislative obligations and am truly frustrated that I will miss the discussion on the EPA and greenhouse gas as this is a very relevant and important issue to our economy and environment. For the most part, my working life has been industrial; a heavy user of electric energy. During my tenure in the State Assembly I have served on the energy committee in the State Assembly for the last eight years and now have the great honor of serving as Chair of the Energy and Utilities Committee so the issue of greenhouse gas has been on my radar for many years. As Chair of the Committee I look forward to expanding the debate on this issue from “energy and environment” to energy, the economy and environment”.
We really must look at how the EPA regulations are going to hurt our economy. The costs of regulations are simply unknown at this time and we do not know how our economy will be affected by these unknowns. There are some of us who believe that it is the current administration’s plan to direct our economy through environmental policy at the EPA level.
Please know that as Chair of the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee I will listen to all sides of this debate and I will be reviewing all information from today’s forum. This is a very important issue that needs to be addressed on all levels of government; federal, state and local.
And just as a side note, the State of Delaware had a regional greenhouse gas initiative to reduce 755,000 tons (about 10%) of CO2 a year. What they will save in ten years unfortunately China will spew out in 68 seconds. We need to think about the sacrifices in relation to our economy regarding greenhouse gas cap and trade.
