The Hill News

The tension between protecting the environment and stimulating the economy is boiling over today in Washington.

The most recent flashpoint is over claims that new interstate air pollution standards for the utility sector are overly burdensome, and could negatively impact the economy. This comes on the heels of the recent, hotly contested move by the Obama Administration to table two other regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would have sought to reduce harmful ozone and greenhouse gas emissions; in doing so, the Administration cited concerns that the regulations could lead to billions in lost costs for businesses.

But pitting environmental and public health protections against economic growth is a false choice. As Congress and the Administration look for more effective ways to balance these two imperatives, they should prioritize - not punish - America's cleanest, most affordable energy resource: energy efficiency.

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