CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One advocate for clean coal technology calls the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed emission limits for existing coal-fired power plants “meaningless” and “symbolic.”
“It’s little gain for lots of pain,” said Mike Duncan, president and CEO of the Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” “It will cost, on their estimate, $8 billion a year to reduce carbon by less than one percent.”
EPA officials said the goal of the proposals, released Monday, is to cut carbon emissions from existing power plants in the U.S. by a national average of 30 percent — compared with 2005 levels — before 2030. In general, states would have flexibility to meet individualized targets for emissions using a variety of options.
Roger Horton with Citizens for Coal says it’s not up to the EPA to develop such regulations. “This is a job for our Congress to do, not the EPA. And that is just the bottom line, period,” Horton said. “It’s unacceptable, absolutely unacceptable.”
Duncan said citizens will be paying the most for the reductions. Five years after what is now a draft rule takes effect — if it takes effect — he’s predicting a double-digit increase in electricity prices in many states.
“About 59 percent of the families in West Virginia make under $50,000 a year. Their spending will be above 20 percent for their energy bills going into the future, so this is just bad news for individuals all over the country,” Duncan said.
Gina McCarthy, the administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, claimed many critics of the new proposed limits are trying to protect their own interests. “This is not just about disappearing polar bears and melting ice caps, although I like polar bears and I know about melting ice caps,” McCarthy said.
“This is about protecting our health and it is about protecting our homes.”
In a statement issued Monday, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said he supported the goal of safeguarding the public’s health. “I understand the fears that these rules will eliminate jobs, hurt our communities and drive up costs for working families. I am keenly focused on policy issues that affect West Virginians’ health and their livelihoods,” Rockefeller said.
“However, rather than let fear alone drive our response, we should make this an opportunity to build a stronger future for ourselves. West Virginians have never walked away from a challenge, and I know together we can create a future that protects our health, creates jobs and maintains coal as a core part of energy supply.”
Rockefeller cited developing clean coal technology and called on the federal government to invest more in such projects instead of relying solely on the private sector.
“The threat that climate change and unhealthy air pose to all of our futures cannot be understated,” Rockefeller said. “And the costs of inaction are far greater than the costs of action.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said the EPA has proposed rules that are not based on any existing technology that has been proven on a commercial scale.
“That is why we must continue to invest in innovative technologies, including clean coal and natural gas technologies, to ensure our energy supply remains accessible, affordable and reliable for all Americans,” Manchin said.
Four public hearings on the EPA’s proposed rule will be held in July in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Ga., Denver, Co. and Pittsburgh, Pa.