Environmental attorney and McAfee & Taft shareholder Mary Ellen Ternes was interviewed for an Oklahoman article about the impact of Copenhagen’s recent climate summit on the United States and Oklahoma.
When asked if anything happened at the summit that will affect the U.S., Ternes told the Oklahoman the President could bind us under a number of executive options, but those could or would be constrained by Congress. Instead, he is proposing goals generally consistent with those Congress is already considering. In short, nothing will affect the U.S. directly, immediately, or without further action from Congress.
According to Ternes though, “as a result of climate legislation, or even new EPA rules, people in Oklahoma will likely find that energy prices will rise.” This will likely result in price increases in other areas as well, including cost of goods and transportation. She explained that new legislation will also affect Oklahoma’s large oil and gas industry and feels “[the] adaptation by our oil and gas industry to more stringent air pollutant emissions policies and developing U.S. energy strategies” is one of the biggest issues related to climate change she has seen in Oklahoma.
You can read the entire interview here.