There’s no stopping EPA now from regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The last two chances to stop EPA have failed.

First, the Senate has killed plans to bring proposed GHG cap-and-trade legislation to vote.  There are just not enough votes to overcome opposition to any plan that would put a price (i.e. tax) on carbon emissions. Failure by the Senate to act on cap-and-trade gives EPA a free hand to regulate as it sees fit.

Second, EPA has rejected several petitions from global warming denier groups that had hoped to derail the regulatory freigh train.

The petitions had challenged what’s known as EPA’s “endangerment finding” that concluded that the unrestrained release of GHGs creates a risk to public health and welfare. It’s this finding that cleared the way for EPA to use the Clean Air Act to regulate these releases.

The main thrust of the petitions challenged the science EPA used to justify its regulations. But EPA has flatly rejected assertions that it has relied on any flawed science.

Starting in January, the 16,000 facilities have to start reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other emissions that contribute to global warming. Once this first round of rules is established, EPA says it will then consider regulating most industrial facilities and even six million small businesses.