Southern states energy officials push for as much deregulation as possible while Trump is still in power
The contrast could not have been greater between the political and economic conversations at the Southern States Energy Board meeting here Tuesday and Wednesday and the global chorus of urgent calls for action on climate change at the United Nations in New York.
While dozens of world leaders committed at the UN to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, here at Louisville’s opulent Seelbach Hilton Hotel, officials from more than a dozen southern states huddled up in a fossil fuel bubble that blocked out the sense of urgency found in the scientific consensus on climate change.
More than 100 lawmakers, state and federal bureaucrats, representatives of the oil, gas and coal industries and two governors from the region attended a program with speakers who urged states to relax environmental regulations as much as possible while the fossil-fuel friendly Trump administration is still in power—and to never apologize for supporting burning coal, oil or gas.
The meeting was sponsored by oil, gas and coal companies and electric utilities—including American Electric Power, Duke Energy, Marathon and Phillips 66, as well as petrochemicals giant Koch Industries.
Chris Skates, a top energy advisor to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, said he figures he helped emit millions of pounds of carbon dioxide in a 30-year electric utility career, adding “and I am damn proud of it.” [Continue reading…]