Mobile Press-Register Editorial: Bill would 'cap' the economies of 2 states

Catch the full story here.

MOST MEMBERS of the Alabama and Mississippi congressional delegations have correctly concluded that "cap and trade" environmental proposals in Congress would be a kick in the teeth for the two states.

Indeed, even if one accepts that global warming is a grave threat, the cap-and-trade legislation would do little to reduce the problem of global carbon emissions.

Alabama, Mississippi and other Southern states that rely on coal-generated electricity would pay a higher price than the nation as a whole.

The cap-and-trade system would impose significant costs on the two states' coal-based power industries. Also, Alabama and Mississippi would have to import electricity from states with a greater capacity to generate wind and solar power.

These added costs would virtually eliminate a key advantage Alabama and Mississippi have enjoyed in competing for new industries: relatively low-cost power.

We expect the states' senators — Mr. Sessions and Richard Shelby in Alabama; Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker in Mississippi — will also say "no" to this cap on the economy.