PACE Endorses Statement on EPA Carbon Rule

The following statement was released yesterday by Consumer Energy Alliance and endorsed by PACE.

The American economy is literally energized by one of the world’s most complex and efficient machines – the nation’s electrical grid and its associated power plants.  Since Edison and the 1880’s, this interconnected grid has operated best through close-to-the-customer oversight at the state level.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to federalize our nation’s energy policy through the burdensome “Clean Power Plan”.The undersigned group of citizens, elected officials and regulators say again to U.S. EPA that their extremely burdensome regulation without due consideration of customers should be cause for concern.

Last summer in response to the draft “Clean Power Plan”, hundreds of leaders with diverse backgrounds across the nation came together to tell U.S. EPA that the “Plan” should:

1. Consider customer costs;
2. Preserve fuel options;
3. Maintain electric grid reliability and;
4. Respect states-rights and their unique circumstances.

To the first point, the U.S. Supreme Court recently reprimanded U.S. EPA for not including consumer costs in their evaluation of other regulations.  It appears EPA didn’t get the message.

Consumers across the country call for a retooling of the “Plan” that gives credit for the significant emissions reductions America has already accomplished, provides realistic timelines for compliance, thoughtfully considers impacts on consumers, and pays deference to states’ authority to make energy decisions in the ultimate interest of consumers and ratepayers.

To avoid production and planning uncertainty related to our nation’s vital energy infrastructure, EPA should reconsider its “Plan” in light of all the ongoing court proceedings and the legitimate concerns raised by bipartisan policymakers, non-partisan regulators, and the consumers they serve.  Jobs, reliability and consumers of energy across the nation depend on this relief.

This statement was signed by the following individuals and organizations:

Alaska Senator Cathy Giessel

Atlanta Metro Chamber

Al Henley, (retired) President of Alabama AFL-CIO

Consumer Energy Alliance

Georgia Public Service Commission, Chairman Chuck Eaton

Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols

Georgia Rep. Chuck Martin

Georgia Agribusiness Council

Georgia Chamber of Commerce

IBEW Local Union 111

IBEW Local Union 5

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Manufacture Alabama

North Dakota Rep. Bob Skarphol

Ohio Rep. Mike Dovilla

Mayor Ray Beck, Craig, CO

Operating Engineers Local 66

Partnership for Affordable Clean Energy (PACE)

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Stefano

Pennsylvania Camera Bartolotta

Pennsylvania Rep. Bill Kortz

Pennsylvania Coal Alliance

Utah Rep. Steve Handy

Wyoming Sen. Drew Perkins