Environmental Regulations vs. Jobs. Who is the winner here?

[theclemsonkid]

An interesting question... During a good economy, everyone wants to help move the green movement forward. Obviously helping the earth stay cleaner, greener and less polluted is never a bad thing. During an economic recession however, those type of strict EPA regulations make it very hard for people in certain industries (coal and fracking for example) to work without realistically destroying the environment around it to a certain extent.


So the question, do you toss environmental regulations out the window during a recession because jobs are more important? Or do you stay the course and keep those regulations in place, even if it means more jobs disappearing? I'm not sure how I feel...
I thought seeing that most of us currently or at one point had a reef tank, that we may have a lot of different views on the environment. Discuss!

 

[reefraff]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheClemsonKid http:///t/393190/environmental-regulations-vs-jobs-who-is-the-winner-here#post_3496042

An interesting question... During a good economy, everyone wants to help move the green movement forward. Obviously helping the earth stay cleaner, greener and less polluted is never a bad thing. During an economic recession however, those type of strict EPA regulations make it very hard for people in certain industries (coal and fracking for example) to work without realistically destroying the environment around it to a certain extent.


So the question, do you toss environmental regulations out the window during a recession because jobs are more important? Or do you stay the course and keep those regulations in place, even if it means more jobs disappearing? I'm not sure how I feel...
I thought seeing that most of us currently or at one point had a reef tank, that we may have a lot of different views on the environment. Discuss!
I think if you create sensible regulations to begin with and don't appoint agenda driven extremists to the EPA there would be no need to pull back the laws. Right now the administration is in Jihad mode against the Coal industry. Instead of trying to push coal out of existence as a power source we should be transitioning to clean coal. But now we are seeing not only coal industry jobs killed but also power rates increased as perfectly fine coal plants are shut down and new expensive green plants are built. here in Colorado we've had 2 rate increases in recent years just to cover the higher costs associated with mandated renewable power generation. That doesn't help anyone in a tight economy.

 

[dragonzim]

One of the strangest things I've seen happen in my area was back in the 70s- 80s they build a nuclear power plant in a town called Shoreham here on LI. Before they even turned the plant on it was decided that there was not an easy enough way to evacuate Long Island in case of a problem and they shut the whole project down and decomissioned the plant. Meanwhile, about 10 miles away from Shoreham, we have the Brookhaven National Lab, which at one point had 3 operational nuclear reactors.

 

[darthtang aw]

Ok, looking at it from a Jobs aspects...yes Higher cost regulations hurt the economy which hurts people far more than most "pollutants" on a regular basis.. The two highest cost years in recent history (the last 30 years) were under Both Presidents Bush. These regulations were imposed one year before an economic crash/recession. While Obama has signed fewer regulatory bills, he has not reduced the restrictions put in place before this latest Recession.
The single biggest factor that affect profits is energy cost usage. This raises prices significantly.

 

[ironeagle2006]

Personally I look no Further than the Industry I used to make my Living in the OTR Trucking Industry. You want to see what happens when the EPA runs wild then look no further than what happened there. Trucks used to get 7-8 MPG for a Average based on Load and other factors like Temp outside and wheter or not the driver Idled his engine to stay cool or warm to sleep.
Then in 1998 someone at the EPA on their OWN decided that OTR trucks produced to much Pollution while going down the road and SUED the engine makers Caterpiller Cummins Detroit Mack and Volvo. They demanded that Previously agreed to changes in Emissions be implemented in 1/2 the time for the first steps and 1/4 the time for the remaining 2 steps. What did this mean for the Companies they had to take engines that were just NOW in 2012 supposed to have EGR appiled to them and in 2006 slam EGR and DPF onto them. Also as part of the Suit Filed by the EPA they refused to Certify any NEW MODEL YEAR engines unless the Engine Makers agreed to these Demands. So let me lay this out for you we had the Goverment Agency that certifies new engines to be sold NOT allowing them to be SOLD therefore Plugging up the Production of all NEW TRUCKS and Stalling the ECONOMY of the USA.
What did this all lead to in the OTR Industry Engines that used to get 1Million Miles Before Overhaul Now BARELY get 600K miles before they are needing an Overhaul. Then we have the loss of Reliablity for the Engines that beforehand where about Bulletproof now act like they are in Reefkeping terms a Clown Tang.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ironeagle2006 http:///t/393190/environmental-regulations-vs-jobs-who-is-the-winner-here#post_3496317
Personally I look no Further than the Industry I used to make my Living in the OTR Trucking Industry. You want to see what happens when the EPA runs wild then look no further than what happened there. Trucks used to get 7-8 MPG for a Average based on Load and other factors like Temp outside and wheter or not the driver Idled his engine to stay cool or warm to sleep.
Then in 1998 someone at the EPA on their OWN decided that OTR trucks produced to much Pollution while going down the road and SUED the engine makers Caterpiller Cummins Detroit Mack and Volvo. They demanded that Previously agreed to changes in Emissions be implemented in 1/2 the time for the first steps and 1/4 the time for the remaining 2 steps. What did this mean for the Companies they had to take engines that were just NOW in 2012 supposed to have EGR appiled to them and in 2006 slam EGR and DPF onto them. Also as part of the Suit Filed by the EPA they refused to Certify any NEW MODEL YEAR engines unless the Engine Makers agreed to these Demands. So let me lay this out for you we had the Goverment Agency that certifies new engines to be sold NOT allowing them to be SOLD therefore Plugging up the Production of all NEW TRUCKS and Stalling the ECONOMY of the USA.
What did this all lead to in the OTR Industry Engines that used to get 1Million Miles Before Overhaul Now BARELY get 600K miles before they are needing an Overhaul. Then we have the loss of Reliablity for the Engines that beforehand where about Bulletproof now act like they are in Reefkeping terms a Clown Tang.

 

[stdreb27]

lol, I'm all about being a good steward of the environment. Unlike the Green movement...
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/300546/bald-eagles-fall-green-energy-deroy-murdock

 

[jerthunter]

I'm not sure there is any winner... I know that having worked in some pretty nasty environments for most of my adult life, I appreciate being able to go home and get away from the filth and fumes of the power and manufacturing industries. So I guess my opinion woukd be to develop reasonable standards and maintain those standards providing company's with a stable framework to work in.

 

[reefraff]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerthunter http:///t/393190/environmental-regulations-vs-jobs-who-is-the-winner-here#post_3498248
I'm not sure there is any winners... I know that having worked in some pretty nasty environments for most of my adult life, I appreciate being able to go home and get away from the filth and fumes of the power and manufacturing industries. So I guess my opinion woukd be to develop reasonable standards and maintain those standards providing company's with a stable framework to work in.
Trouble is the EPA and other agencies that create and enforce the rules are stacked full of environmentalist who don't see it that way.