EPA's Princiotta Seeks More Global Warming Action

Frank Princiotta, Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division, called for stepped-up efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions today at the Thirteenth Annual Energy and Environment Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.

Princiotta said global greenhouse gas emissions rose much more rapidly during the past decade than even the most pessimistic scenario put forth by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As a result, the planet could warm by more than 4 degrees Celsius this century under business-as-usual conditions, Pinciatta warned, and a monumental investment in alternative energy research is needed to stave off a catastrophe.

During Q&A I asked him how much he believes the federal government should spend on alternative energy research.

“Of total research funding in the U.S., 60 percent is military,” answered Princiotta. “A very small fraction – 5 to 8 percent of the remaining 40 percent – deals with these energy issues. Personally – I am not speaking for EPA – [the federal government should have] an expenditure in the order of our military expenditures. We need a revolution in terms of how we use energy. This cannot happen without a tremendous increase in research spending.”

I also asked him whether or not he agreed with the assertion of American Electric Power vice president Bruce Braine that EPA regulation of carbon dioxide emissions is “a recipe for disaster.”

“I am personally not as pessimistic in regard to the Clean Air Act as a vehicle for reducing CO2 emissions,” answered Princiotta. “There are bright people implementing the Clean Air Act. It is not the ultimate answer, but it can do a tremendous amount of good until legislation is enacted.”