EPA Forces Luminant Closure

It looks like the Federal government is out to humble GOP candidate and Texas Governor, Rick Perry. I will suggest that the full power and influence of our nation's administration are targeting the GOP candidate and his state.

Texas energy company closes

Luminant, a Texas energy company, is closing its doors. Several facilities housing at least two energy-generating units will shut down. Also, the company will no longer extract the coal from its Texas mines. The closures will result in 500 jobs lost in Texas.

Luminant cited the EPA as the cause of the closure. Luminant is no longer able to meet the excessively stringent regulations and restrictions imposed upon its production of power. This, at a time when the country needs reliable sources of energy more than ever.

David Campbell, Luminant CEO, put it this way, "As always, Luminant is committed to complying fully with EPA regulations. We have spent the last two months identifying all possible options to meet the requirements of this new rule, and we are launching a significant investment program to reduce emissions across our facilities. However, meeting this unrealistic deadline also forces us to take steps that will idle facilities and result in the loss of jobs."

The "new rule" is Cross-State Air Pollution, recently enacted by the nation's strong-armed EPA. It targets energy producers in Texas that use coal to generate power. And it requires dramatic emissions reductions by January 1, 2012.

Perry as political target?

It seems an unnatural coincidence that Texas Governor and GOP candidate, Rick Perry, maintains his dramatic lead. A CNN poll taken yesterday has Perry way ahead. The Texan who generated not only energy in Texas but also thousands of new jobs burst onto the national scene in the GOP race just last month.

Debate design to target Perry

After such a short time in the contested race, Perry remains the leader above all. Perry even survived a televised debate that was designed to bring him down. Conducted by left-wing newscasters and loaded questions, the debate targeted Perry but showcased him instead.

Perry presented himself as the principled person he is, with jobs creation and fiscal responsibility as achievements in Texas. Little element of "slick" was added for effect. This, in contrast to the polished presence, sans record of achievement, of other GOPers on the stage...certainly in contrast to the President's record of achievement to date.

The EPA forcing closure of the Luminant's Texas power plants coincides with other observations of Perry and his state as political targets. Don't think for a moment that it doesn't happen that way here.

You get what you vote for
As Americans, let us put it together and connect the dots. Let us understand the powered put-downs of the current political power machine. And let us not let it cloud a clear view of the candidates put before our vote in 2012, not some tarnished image presented by the press or the President's recognition of his nemesis.

Sources:

http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/12/epa-regulation-forces-closure-of-texas-energy-facilities-eliminates-500-jobs/

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/images/09/11/rel15a.pdf