All animals are equal, but...

...obviously, some animals are more equal than others.

Obama issues global warming rules in January, gives GE an exemption in February
By: Timothy P. Carney 02/02/11 4:50 PM
Senior Political Columnist, The Examiner

Last month, the Obama EPA began enforcing new rules regulating the greenhouse gas emissions from any new or expanded power plants.

This week, the EPA issued its first exemption, Environment & Energy News reports:

The Obama administration will spare a stalled power plant project in California from the newest federal limits on greenhouse gases and conventional air pollution, U.S. EPA says in a new court filing that marks a policy shift in the face of industry groups and Republicans accusing the agency of holding up construction of large industrial facilities.

According to a declaration by air chief Gina McCarthy, officials reviewed EPA policies and decided it was appropriate to "grandfather" projects such as the Avenal Power Center, a proposed 600-megawatt power plant in the San Joaquin Valley, so they are exempted from rules such as new air quality standards for smog-forming nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

There's something interesting about the Avenal Power Center:

The proposed Avenal Energy project will be a combined-cycle generating plant consisting of two natural gas-fired General Electric 7FA Gas Turbines with Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG) and one General Electric Steam Turbine.

Maybe GE CEO Jeff Immelt's closeness to President Obama, and his broad support for Obama's agenda, had nothing to do with this exemption. But we have no way of knowing that, and given the administration's record of regularly misleading Americans regarding lobbyists, frankly, I wouldn't trust the White House if they told me there was no connection.

*snip*

Ok, so while GE may or may not be directly benefiting from Obama administration policy *cough*cough*, here is something else for you to consider: The National Broadcast Corporation (NBC), who has been Mr. Obama's biggest and most vocal lap-dog in broadcast media, is owned and operated by General Electric. It goes without saying that Washington has always been a town where politicians direct policy, favorable to certain groups and businesses in return for political favors, but this is full tilt conflict of interest! What ever happened to the Presidential candidate, back in 2008, that promised no more secret backroom deals with special interests? Hmmm???