Strong public support for new U.S. emission standards bodes ill for Keystone XL

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environment Protection Agency, stressed Monday that new regulations designed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants 30 per cent by 2030 are “not just about disappearing polar bears or melting ice caps.  This is about protecting our health and our homes.”

An ABC/Washington Post polls shows 70 per cent of Americans agree. Across all party lines, they support tighter emission restrictions even if they lead to higher prices and job losses. In states where most electrical power comes from burning coal, support was only slightly lower at 69 per cent.