Parfitt confirms EPA’s proposed CO2 rule is “problematic and unrealistic to achieve.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) welcomed Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Todd Parfitt before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. Senator Barrasso invited Director Parfitt to testify on the challenges Wyoming faces in trying to develop a plan to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rule for existing power plants.

“Todd has a long history of working in the state of Wyoming and specifically working in this Department. He’s worked with a Democrat governor and a Republican governor in Wyoming and has always put Wyoming first and done what’s best for our state and our environment. It’s a privilege today for me to introduce Todd to this Committee,” said Senator Barrasso.

Wyoming DEQ Director, Todd Parfitt, highlighted how Wyoming has long excelled at balancing environmental stewardship with energy production.

“In Wyoming, we take great pride in how we manage our natural resources, providing for both environmental stewardship and energy production,” said WY DEQ Director Parfitt.
“As our governor, Matt Mead, has stated, ‘It is a false question to ask: Do we want energy production or environmental stewardship?’ In Wyoming, we must and do have both.”

Director Parfitt also discussed the challenges Wyoming faces in trying to develop a state plan to meet the EPA’s proposed CO2 regulations for existing power plants.

“EPA’s proposal impacts states differently. For Wyoming, the proposed goal is problematic and unrealistic to achieve. EPA is proposing a compressed timeline in which states are to develop and submit their state plans,” said WY DEQ Director Parfitt. “Considering the complexities of the proposal and developing a compliance plan, along with any needed state legislation, the timelines are problematic, if not unrealistic.”

You can listen to Mr. Parfitt’s entire Committee statement here and Senator Barrasso’s statement and questions here.

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