September 5, 2007

Houston Business Journal
Manufacturers Speak Out Against Proposed Ozone Standards

By Ford Gunter

An Environmental Protection Agency panel is hosting a public hearing Wednesday in Houston to discuss a proposed ozone standard that has drawn the ire of the manufacturing lobby.

The Texas Association of Manufacturers said the new standard needlessly threatens jobs because the "current standard is generating dramatic air quality improvements."

"The current ozone standard is working to clean the air and will cut power plant emissions in half by 2015 and vehicle emissions by 70 percent by 2030, according to the EPA -- even as our economy grows," said Tony Bennett, chairman of TAM.

Bennett said the new standard could balloon the current $100 billion budget for reducing ozone emissions, taking funds away from what he calls the best work in Texas: high-paying manufacturing jobs.

TAM said the EPA hasn't given the current standard a chance in Texas, where the state has spent two years implementing policy to adhere to it.

"The EPA proposed this change less than 30 days later," Bennett said. "With a moving target for success, we have no hope for success."