Good Idea

Now I might not always recognize a good idea when I see it but <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/09/15/build/state/30-mercury-controls.inc">this</a> definitely is a good idea that needs pursued. I'm afraid I am a little confused by one thing.<br />n<br />n<blockquote>David Hoffman, manager of PPL Montana's external affairs department, said that while he agreed power plants need to limit mercury pollution, the proposed plan would hurt Montana's power plants. PPL Montana is the state's major power generator.<br />n <br />nThe federal Environmental Protection Agency has proposed limiting mercury pollution nationwide by 70 percent by 2018. its plan calls for putting a federal cap on mercury pollution and letting power plants that produce less mercury sell "pollution credits" to plants that produce more as long as the national mercury-emission rate falls by 70 percent.</blockquote><br />n<br />nWhy would the power plant operators be opposed to this? If they produce significantly less mercury than other places in the US they can just sell their "pollution credits" and they have a win-win situation. Less mercury out the stack and getting paid to do it as well. I think PPL Montana needs to rethink this one. This is a good idea for all.<br />n<br />n<b>It's very good for an idea to be commonplace. The important thing is that a new idea should develop out of what is already there so that it soon becomes an old acquaintance. Old acquaintances aren't by any means always welcome, but at least one can't be mistaken as to who or what they are. Penelope Fitzgerald</b>