Wicker: EPA’s Power Plant Rule Most ‘Blatant Overreach’ to Date
February 11, 2015
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today said that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed carbon dioxide regulations for power plants would be a “regulatory nightmare.”
“People in Mississippi have told me that we are going to have to close down the entire coal-fired power production in the state because of this rule,” Wicker said. “This is going to be a regulatory nightmare for electric providers, users, and working families.”
Wicker’s comments occurred during a committee hearing on the proposed regulation. Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, testified on the Administration’s behalf.
“The Mississippi Development Authority says that the minimum incremental capital cost to the state, if this rule is implemented, would be $14.2 billion,” Wicker continued. “The cost would be mainly constructing generating facilities that we do not need under the current set of laws and regulations.
“Many power plants in Mississippi have spent billions of dollars to come into compliance with EPA rules. Yet, because of the new rules, they might have to retire anyway, irrespective of the fact that they have years of remaining useful life.”
“People in Mississippi have told me that we are going to have to close down the entire coal-fired power production in the state because of this rule,” Wicker said. “This is going to be a regulatory nightmare for electric providers, users, and working families.”
Wicker’s comments occurred during a committee hearing on the proposed regulation. Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, testified on the Administration’s behalf.
“The Mississippi Development Authority says that the minimum incremental capital cost to the state, if this rule is implemented, would be $14.2 billion,” Wicker continued. “The cost would be mainly constructing generating facilities that we do not need under the current set of laws and regulations.
“Many power plants in Mississippi have spent billions of dollars to come into compliance with EPA rules. Yet, because of the new rules, they might have to retire anyway, irrespective of the fact that they have years of remaining useful life.”
