PACE in National Journal: New EPA Regulations will Cripple Economy

PACE in National Journal: Time to Hit the Brakes on EPA Rules
July 29, 2011
PACE Launches Documentary On U.S. Energy Policy
August 10, 2011

This week’s energy question from the National Journal was provided by former Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, current National Chair of Small Businesses for Sensible Regulations, who asks “How can President Obama and Congress balance new regulations coming out of the Environmental Protection Agency with a still-weak economy?” Read below to see PACE’s response.

The partisan debate over the debt ceiling may have subsided, but the urgency to take steps to repair America’s struggling economy has not. With Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgrade of the country’s AAA rating for the first time in history last week adding to uncertainty in our economy, it’s time we start focusing on how to ease consumer and industry burdens rather than adding to them.

This is a message the EPA is unfortunately deaf to. Rather than fully examining a regulation’s impact before it is proposed, the EPA rushes new standards out the door without full analysis of everything else they are doing, adding further uncertainties for businesses, consumers and the economy as a whole.

But the economy isn’t our only concern. One need walk no further than their front door to feel the heat wave that is currently gripping much of the nation; and without a reliable energy grid, good luck keeping your house and families cool in the midst of summer heat and warm in the dead of winter.

If the EPA is allowed to follow through with a number of recent regulations, consumers will pay the price both in increased electricity prices and comfort. In fact, a recent study by National Economic Research Associates estimates the EPA’s proposed Utility MACT and recently finalized Cross-State Air Pollution Rule will result in an 11.5 percent increase in average retail electricity prices.

From coast to coast, organizations are lining up to file comments with the EPA expressing concern over regulations and what it will mean for consumers. The overwhelming consensus is the EPA should allow for more time to fully examine the rules’ impact and, at the very least, extend the deadline for compliance to give the industry ample time to meet new standards. The alternative is for much of the nation’s industry providers to shut their doors altogether.

Read the rest of PACE’s National Journal piece here.