Two new EPA pollution regulations will slam the coal industry so hard that hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost, and electric rates will skyrocket 11 percent to over 23 percent, according to a new study based on government data.
Overall, the rules aimed at making the air cleaner could cost the coal-fired power plant industry $180 billion, warns a trade group.
“Many of these severe impacts would hit families living in states already facing serious economic challenges,” said Steve Miller, president of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. “Because of these impacts, EPA should make major changes to the proposed regulations before they are finalized,” he said.
But wait, where did this study come from? Why, it was bought and paid for by -- wait for it -- the same "clean coal" trade group!
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a trade group including coal companies and coal-heavy utilities such as Southern Co. and American Electric Power Co. Inc., paid for the study by New York-based National Economic Research Associates Inc.
NERA analysts concluded that those new costs would lead to a 13 percent drop in coal-fired generation and a 26 percent increase for natural gas. Electricity prices would rise by an average of 11.5 percent across the country, with double-digit hikes for ratepayers in 21 states.
On balance, those increases would cause the economy to shed about 144,000 jobs for the next decade, the study says, despite claims from supporters that the rules will create construction work. EPA estimated that the rules would have little effect on jobs, and might increase total employment in the long run.
The new study was welcomed by lobbyists for coal-heavy utilities, who are hoping to derail the rules on Capitol Hill by arguing that they will hinder an economic recovery. They are looking to lawmakers such as Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), the chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees the Clean Air Act, who is crafting a bill to that effect.
Next you'll be telling me studies bought and paid for by cigarette makers showed smoking is safe, too. So when you inevitably hear the right wing noise machine and Republicans say "this new study shows it'll cost hundreds of thousands of jobs and jack up your power bill!" what they will never mention is that the coal trade group bought themselves a study that said exactly what they want you to hear.
By the way, the EPA says differently:
The EPA, however, tells Whispers that the hit the industry will suffer is worth the health benefits. “EPA has taken a number of sensible steps to protect public health, while also working with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that these important Clean Air Act standards—such as the first ever national Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for coal-fired power plants—are reasonable, common-sense, and achievable,” said spokesman Brendan Gilfillan.
What’s more, officials said that just one of the rules to cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions will would yield up to $290 billion in annual health and welfare benefits in 2014. They say that amounts to preventing up to 36,000 premature deaths, 26,000 hospital and emergency room visits, and 240,000 cases of aggravated asthma. “This far outweighs the estimated annual costs,” says an official on background.
Seems like a massive net boost to the economy in lower health care costs and will help save tens of thousands of lives per year thanks to cleaner air and water.
The real issue is that the coal industry doesn't want to clean up their act. They profit mightily by cutting corners. Here in Kentucky our politicians are bought and paid for by the coal industry anyway, so we're used to it. But good for the EPA to stick to their guns.
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