Mister Bush said carbon dioxide limits would lead to higher energy costs. Instead, he said he would seek legislation to control pollutants in the environment that have been identified by the Clean Air Act. Mister Bush announced his position last week in a letter to Republican senators. Carbon dioxide gas enters the atmosphere when fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are burned. Many scientists believe carbon dioxide is causing the Earth to get warmer by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Scientists are concerned that global warming is causing serious climate change.
President Bush now says his campaign position was a mistake. He says carbon dioxide limits would harm coal factories and force greater use of costly natural gas. Coal is used to produce more than half of the nation s electricity. Mister Bush promised to seek a balanced energy policy that improves the air by reducing nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury. He denied criticism by environmental groups that he acted because of pressure from the energy industry.