Facts At A Glance

EPA and Greenhouse Gas Regulation: What it Means for You

"Most consumers aren't aware of the extent to which staff members at the Environmental Protection Agency want to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released by EPA staff July 11, 2008, lays out a strategy to regulate emissions right down to household items and gardening equipment, as well as 'non-road' recreational equipment. These rules don't simply apply to an amorphous American business sector; they apply to the basic American consumer, us at home. They carry significant implications for how we recreate and even tend to our daily household chores."

Charles T. Drevna
President, National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA)
July 15, 2008

EPA's Approach Would Regulate Household Items

Among the everyday household items specifically listed by EPA staff in their approach to regulating greenhouse gas emissions:

Lawn mowers,
String trimmers (weed whackers), and
Portable power generators

EPA's Approach Would Regulate How We Recreate

Not just your car - your boats and other recreational vehicles would be regulated under the EPA's regime:

Recreational marine SI (spark-ignition) vehicles,
All terrain vehicles, and
Snowmobiles

EPA's Approach Would Also Impact Large and Small Businesses

Simple equipment taken for granted that large and small businesses rely on would also be affected:

Forklifts, and construction machines

Some of EPA's "Suggestions"

In the Weeds. "[E]ach application could require a different unit of measure tied to the machine's mission or output-- such as grams per kilogram of cuttings from a 'standard' lawn for lawnmowers and grams per kilogram-meter of load lift for forklifts. Such application specific standards would provide the clearest metric for GHG emission reductions." (Environmental Protection Agency, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the Clean Air Act, p. 337 [emphasis added])
Adrift. "A number of innovative alternatives are under development for providing power on marine vessels. These alternative power sources include fuel cells, solar power, wind power, and even wave power. While none of these technologies are currently able to supply the total power demands of larger, ocean-going vessels, they may prove to be capable of reducing GHG emissions through auxiliary power or power-assist applications." (Environmental Protection Agency, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the Clean Air Act, p. 345 [emphasis added])