If
you follow closely the recent rounds of regulations introduced by the EPA, then
Utility MACT is high on your radar to watch.
Recently,
Senator Inhofe (R – OK) introduced a continuing resolution for review of the
EPA Utility MACT in order to stop yet another redundant regulation as the main
reason the EPA says this is necessary is already covered under the existing
mercury rule.
So,
if it is already covered why would they introduce this legislation? That’s a
good question.
As
with many other laws in Congress, there are other items in the Utility MACT
other than Mercury that will affect not only West Virginia but also virtually
every state and its citizens.
Utility
MACT ensures that all new electric generation be limited to natural gas.
Although that might be great for Marcellus Shale and oil and gas exploration,
that is a dangerous proposition to put all of our electric source in one
basket.
As
much as natural gas is inexpensive today, as the dependence on one source
disproportionality goes in one direction, so does its price – up.
Not
only will utility rates go up, but with the limitation on coal, and the
regressive taxes associated with it also will come closure of Coal Power
Plants, such as the John Amos Power Plant in West Virginia.
Closure
of Coal Power Plants mean loss of coal jobs and shutting down of coal mines,
which in turn has tens of thousands of jobs just in WV, not to mention Kentucky, Ohio and
Pennsylvania not only mining the coal but the multiple industries and
businesses that support the coal industry.
The ramifications of the Utility MACT are endless as the snow ball continues to roll down hill and get larger and larger so will the utility prices and job losses if it is not repealed.
