EPA moves greenhouse gas regulations forward

Power plants in the US will not be required to obtain permits covering greenhouse gases (GHGs) until 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has claimed.

Despite this, the organisation noted it is moving forward with plans to improve the health and welfare of the country's citizens by addressing environmental concerns.

"This is a common-sense plan for phasing in the protections of the Clean Air Act," EPA administrator Lisa Jackson said. "It gives large facilities the time they need to innovate."

According to Ms Jackson, this approach will also enable the government to prepare for cost-cutting measures, while setting in motion legislation that will not push the problem onto the next generation.

She also called on US entrepreneurs and blue-sky thinkers to start designing and manufacturing the technology needed to drive GHG regulations forward.

The EPA recently commended eight companies in the US for meeting reductions targets for pollution of this kind, with Kodak and Bank of America included.