News from NAM
Posted on Friday, August 1, 2014
Manufacturers continue to wrap their heads
around the fact that growth in the early months
of 2014 has been more disappointing than
originally anticipated, but at the same time, they
are cautiously upbeat about the second half of the
year. The sharp 2.9 percent drop in real GDP in the
first quarter clearly altered perceptions about the
economy, with business leaders struggling to try
to figure out how that impacts their prospects for
the rest of this year. For instance, was the drop in
activity mostly due to severe weather, or were there
larger doubts about the economy at play?
Utility Air Regulatory Group vs. EPA
The most significant case for the NAM during
the 2013 Supreme Court term was the outcome
in Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) vs. EPA,
the challenge to the EPA’s first set of greenhouse
gas regulations, in which the NAM was a party.
Though the EPA has characterized this outcome
as a win, it was in fact a victory for manufacturers.
The outcome reflects legal arguments put forth
by the NAM-led coalition of petitioners and
will immediately relieve small to medium-sized
manufacturing facilities from the obligation to
obtain permits for their greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, the decision invalidates the EPA’s
authority to expand this permitting program to
potentially 6 million facilities. Round one goes to
the manufacturers.
Visit www.nam.org for more information.