GOP Lawmaker Laments Environmental Regs

By Andy Wiltrout

House Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) told reporters Wednesday that the energy policies of the Obama administration are killing jobs and keeping the nation’s weak economy from expanding.

Whitfield, who chairs a Subcommittee on Energy and Power, targeted the Environmental Protection Agency, arguing it has been too aggressive in issuing new regulations that he said is stunting economic growth.

“[EPA Administrator] Lisa Jackson seems to believe that she can create so many jobs by pushing green energy that it will offset any job loss in traditional industries,” Whitfield said during a discussion at the National Press Club in Washington “I, for one, do not believe that is possible.”

Whitfield also accused the Obama administration of overselling the ability of green energy to come anywhere close to meeting the country’s electricity demand over the next 20 years.

“I think the President’s stimulus plan that he implemented was funneled to green energy projects,” said Whitfield.

He later argued that if the federal government wants to be in the business of subsidizing green energy, then it should either subsidize traditional energy sources, including clean coal, too, or not subsidize energy at all.