Interest Group Politics
Acid Rain
Source of Acid Rain:
1.Burning of high- sulfur coal in mid-western factories 2.Winds carry sulfuric acid eastward 3.Rains bring acid to earth |
Effects of Acid Rain:
1.Acidification of lakes 2.Destruction of forests 3.Long- term and some short- term effects |
Regional Battle:
1. East versus Midwest, Canada versus United States
2. Midwestern businesses deny blame and costs
Solutions and Compromise
1.Burn low- sulfur coal
2.Install smokestack scrubbers
3.Congress voted for scrubbers for all new plants
2.Install smokestack scrubbers
3.Congress voted for scrubbers for all new plants
Political Advantages
1.Miners in high sulfur coal mines would be protected.
2.Scrubbers were universally accepted by environmentalist as the technological solution to the problem.
3.Scrubber manufacturers liked the idea.
4.Eastern governors like the idea of scrubbers because of the high cost making it less likely to be effective.
2.Scrubbers were universally accepted by environmentalist as the technological solution to the problem.
3.Scrubber manufacturers liked the idea.
4.Eastern governors like the idea of scrubbers because of the high cost making it less likely to be effective.
1977 Law
Required scrubbers on all new coal burning plants, which included plants located next to mines . Described as the “Clean coal and dirty air” act. Title IV of the 1990 clean air act: established the allowance market system known today as the Acid Rain Program. The program was implemented in two stages: Phase I (starting January 1, 1995) 111 power plants required to reduce emissions by a fixed amount. Phase II (starting January 1, 2000) Would cause a sharper emission reduction for many more plants. |
Example of an Interest Group