Coal Industry rebels against EPA rulemaking because of cost

[kristopher]

EPA's expensive new rule to rock coal-fired power
July 7, 2011
Source: American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity

The EPA has announced its final "Cross-State Air Pollution Rule," despite an analysis showing that the regulation, in combination with other EPA rules, would be among the most expensive ever imposed by the agency on coal-fueled power plants, dramatically increasing electricity rates for American families and businesses, and causing substantial job losses.

“The EPA is ignoring the cumulative economic damage new regulations will cause,” said Steve Miller, president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “America’s coal-fueled electric industry has been doing its part for the environment and the economy, but our industry needs adequate time to install clean coal technologies to comply with new regulations. Unfortunately, EPA doesn’t seem to care.”

Earlier this month, ACCCE released an initial analysis by National Economic Research Associates (NERA) of the combined impacts of EPA’s "Cross-State Air Pollution Rule" and the “Utility MACT” Rule. Using government data, NERA’s initial analysis found that these two proposals by the EPA would result in net employment losses of over 1.4 million job-years by 2020. While the EPA claims the regulations would create jobs, the NERA analysis projects that four jobs are lost for every job that might be created. NERA also found that the two regulations would increase electricity rates by over 23 percent in some areas of the United States that rely on coal for electricity. In addition, consumers will be paying over $8 billion per year in higher natural gas prices because of these proposed rules.

“We urge EPA to take a realistic look at the enormous impact of all the regulations they are considering and how those regulations affect families and businesses. In a time of high unemployment, we should be pursuing sensible policies that create jobs, not eliminate jobs.” said Miller.

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/9551211706/articles/pennenergy/power/coal/2011/july/epa_s-expensive_new.html?cmpid=EnlWeeklyPowerJuly82011