WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement regarding the publication of the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule for emissions from power [utility] plants:
“Once again, the Obama Administration has taken action to appease extreme environmental activists instead of helping jobless Americans.
“Utility MACT will make it harder and more expensive for the private sector to create good jobs for American workers. This red tape will force coal fired power plants to close their doors and send their workers to the unemployment office.
“It will also lead to blackouts across the country while low income folks are trying to heat their homes and small businesses are trying to operate. It’s clear that Utility MACT is another part of the President’s plan to make energy costs skyrocket.
“I strongly support Senator Jim Inhofe’s resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal this Washington overreach. If the Democratic Majority in the Senate wants to save jobs and lower American families’ energy costs, they’ll hold a vote on this measure soon.”
BACKGROUND ON UTILITY MACT:
One of the Most Expensive Rules in EPA History. EPA estimates that the final rule will cost $9.6 billion per year. Previous estimates had the rule at $10.94 billion per year. (EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, 12/2011 & EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis of the Proposed Toxics Rule, 3/2011)
• 39,000 Jobs Lost Due to the Rule. (EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, 12/2011)
• 700,000 Paperwork Burden Hours Due to the Rule. (EPA, Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, 12/2011)
32 Power Plants Will Shut Down. An Associated Press analysis has found that more than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be forced to close because of the new, more stringent regulations. Another 36 plants [in 16 states] are at risk of closing. (Associated Press, “Power Plant Closures to Cost U.S. Town Jobs, Taxes” 12/20/2011)
Costs Outweigh the Benefits. Total monetized benefits estimated $500,000 to $6 million per year (less than 0.01% of the Rule’s total costs). (National Economic Research Associates, EGU MACT Rule’s Benefit-Cost Case and EPA’s Reliance on Co-Benefits, 12/8/2011)
• North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has stated this rule could lead to 12 GW of capacity reductions and disproportionately impact the PJM assessment area (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Virginia) (NERC, Potential Impacts of Future Environmental Regulations, 12/2011)
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