Monday, December 1, 2014

EPA coal regulations roundup

Today was the deadline for comments on the EPA's proposed rules to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. Following are some links that might be of interest to people following this.

Bloomberg: Utilities Say EPA Carbon Plan May Put Reliable Power at Risk

The Charlotte Observer: The Obama administration’s plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants would “fundamentally alter how electricity is generated, delivered and consumed in the country,” according to Duke Energy.

ThinkProgress:  "In a call with reporters Monday, leaders of the environmentally-minded business group Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) and the ministry Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) said they had obtained support from hundreds of businesses and evangelical leaders from across the country to push for stronger restrictions on carbon pollution than the EPA rule currently has."

Arch Coal:  "That's an unprecedented change to America's power system in what constitutes the blink of an eye in energy markets – creating enormous potential for market disruptions, supply shortages and rate spikes."

Alaska Department of Law: "On his last day in office, Governor Sean Parnell continued to fight federal overreach into Alaskans’ lives and businesses. The EPA’s proposed regulations for existing power plants are extremely expensive, particularly for middle and lower class electricity consumers who could end up footing the bill. The “outside-the-fence” measures do not just regulate air emissions from utility plants, but dictate what generation resources could be used to provide electricity in Alaska and reach into consumers’ homes. Congress never gave EPA authority to take over energy policy in the United States."

East Kentucky Power Cooperative, via the Lane Report: “EPA’s plan goes too far, too fast. Rather than simply regulating the emissions from power plants, as prescribed by the Clean Air Act, EPA is attempting to regulate the electric power sector. EPA is attempting to mandate generation technologies and control consumer behaviors."

The Charleston Daily Mail: "The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Appalachian Power and West Virginia Coal Association have filed comments disagreeing with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan."

National Resources Defense Council: "WASHINGTON (December 1, 2014) – The Environmental Protection Agency can ramp up energy efficiency and renewable power, and achieve substantially deeper cuts in carbon pollution from power plants than it has proposed, the Natural Resources Defense Council said in public comments submitted to the agency today."