Texas Governor Warns CO2 Rules Would Cripple State's Economy

Dallas, TX (AHN) - Rick Perry, the Republican governor of Texas, is warning that proposed regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions could cripple his state's economy.

President-elect Barack Obama has said his energy plan includes strict emissions standards on just about every industrial sector.

Perry said a federal notice of a proposed rulemaking would impose air quality permits and regulations on much of the state's economy, including commercial buildings, small farms, churches, hotels and even large residential buildings, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The Texas economy is out-performing the rest of the country, and Perry said the proposed regulations would run it "right off the tracks, into a ditch."

He also said the proposed rules would harm the state's oil and natural gas production operations, which are vital to the Texas economy. Also in jeopardy Perry said, is the state's coal industry.

Perry said the federal government should instead take note of Texas' renewable energy rules, which have spurred a significant wind-power industry, instead of mandating carbon dioxide emissions.

According to a recent Energy Information Administration report, the State of Texas spewed 630 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2005, making it the eighth-largest emitter of the greenhouse gas in the world, just behind Canada.