Grandfather’s Last Days?: Voluntary Permits and Economically Sustainable Air Quality in Texas

Daunting air quality problems in Texas have brought state government under increasing public pressure to enact strict controls on air emissions. The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC) launched a voluntary emissions reduction (VERPs) program to encourage plants to reduce their emissions. If the program does not produce significant reductions, the legislature will likely subject these plants to strict standards.