AP IMPACT: EPA rules threaten older power plants

Associated Press ^ | Dec 19, 2011, 7:47 AM EST | DINA CAPPIELLO

[Hunton Peck]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 32 mostly coal-fired power plants in a dozen states will be forced to shut down and an additional 36 might have to close because of new federal air pollution regulations, according to an Associated Press survey.

Together, those plants - some of the oldest and dirtiest in the country - produce enough electricity for more than 22 million households, the AP survey found. But their demise probably won't cause homes to go dark.

The fallout will be most acute for the towns where power plant smokestacks long have cast a shadow. Tax revenues and jobs will be lost, and investments in new power plants and pollution controls probably will raise electric bills.

The survey, based on interviews with 55 power plant operators and on the Environmental Protection Agency's own prediction of power plant retirements, rebuts claims by critics of the regulations and some electric power producers.

They have predicted the EPA rules will kill coal as a power source and force blackouts, basing their argument on estimates from energy analysts, congressional offices, government regulators, unions and interest groups. Many of those studies inflate the number of plants retiring by counting those shutting down for reasons other than the two EPA rules.

The AP surveyed electricity-generating companies about what they plan to do and the effects on power supply and jobs. It was the first survey of its kind.

The estimate also was based in part on EPA computer models that predict which fossil-fuel generating units are likely to be retired early to comply with the rules, and which were likely to be retired anyway.

The agency has estimated that 14.7 gigawatts, enough power for more than 11 million households, will be retired from the power grid in the 2014-15 period when the two new rules...

[Hunton Peck]

What's next? No cutting or burning firewood?

[yobid]

“.....costs necessarily skyrocket”
—BHO

[FreedomPoster]

More of the Obama time-delay time bomb on our economy. Similar to the delayed effects of Obamacare. Great time for electrical rates to see a substantial jump.

[silverleaf]

yes, already in place in many areas

also starting to make its presence known- no collecting rainwater or growing your own food or raising your own livestock

[silverleaf]

shut down the power for tens of millions while preparing for mass uncontrolled migration into America- thats the ticket to generalized poverty and misery that socialist elites believe America deserves

“hope and change” - socialist-style

[Beagle8U]

The socialist/communist goal it to force everyone to move back into cities where they can control your every move. It also brings back a working taxbase to support the current ghetto dwelling leaches.

[bray]

Just another tax on the middle class by the commies. These plants are perfectly clean except for their production of CO2.

Pray for America

[G Larry]

The existence of the EPA needs to be threatened.

They take their title as gospel, and believe all human activity is evil.

They ARE the “dirt firsters”...

[TheWriterTX]

ERCOT has already officially stated that this will cause rolling blackouts in North Texas/DFW Area and in other parts of the grid during peak periods.

And where does a lot of that "dirty" coal come from? Mines right here in Texas.

This is an attack on coal in general and Texas in particular.

We pay, on average, 12 to 13 cents per KWH. Our rates are going to be on par with MA, which is much higher. Other providers across the country estimate that the economic impact to retrofit their plants or build new ones will cause rates to increase anywhere from 10% to 30%.

Look around your house. How much of what you own requires electricity at some point in the production process? Almost everything.

If folks aren't expecting to pay a lot more for everything in 2012, they haven't been paying attention.

[taildragger]

What's next? No cutting or burning firewood?

Yes of course, then they can "get" into your home and ask questions...

A bit more serious...

We could shut these plants down and go with Gas Fired "Co-Gen" units with 60% thermal efficiency, but that would require our dear leader putting a muzzle on the EPA and average Americans defunding the Sierra Club.

Or, we need someone to develop a home base Co-Gen unit that runs off of Natural Gas ( the infrastructure is their).

This 40 to 50 hp Wankel for Go-Karts and is being experimented with by Audi (with Production Intent ) in a small Electric Car with an on board engine generator, IMHO it would be good start.

Quiet, Compact and Smooth. Run a Generator off the shaft, and use the excess engine heat for hydronic heating or as a heat sink for heat pump....

BTW, this engine looks to be about the size of a large Honey Dew Melon, if that....

[The Theophilus]

How much of what you own requires electricity at some point in the production process? Almost everything.

Then ask yourself, how much of what you own is actually made in this country, or, after the deliberate deindustrialization of the West is complete, will ever be made in this country.

[6SJ7]

The New Dark Ages.

Someday, in the future, it will be regarded as myth that we had lights that glowed without flames.

[The Theophilus]

What's next? No cutting or burning firewood?

Here is a heart warming story about how much government values you not freezing to death.

My favorite part is where the public reaction to this is so universally violent that the reporter had to sign waivers and have proof of worker's compensation coverage before he was allowed to go for the ride-along.

[BfloGuy]

Billions of dollars of America's capital accumulated over a century will be wiped out. And to replace it, struggling consumers and businesses will see their electric rates go up. In that process, thousands of businesses will either curtail production or shut down altogether.

Energy is the crucial component in manufacturing and retail. With each price increase, businesspeople must consider their processes and make compensating decisions.

But the geniuses that advise this administration tell it that capital is a self-renewing factor of production.

It isn't. Capital does not reproduce itself. It is painstakingly saved from wages and profits over long periods of time. Obama is just chucking it in the wastebasket. There will be economic consequences.

[headstamp 2]

Removing base load generating capacity when we should be adding to it like yesterday is a recipe for disaster. These maniacs need to be thrown out on their asses.

[Don Corleone]

The EPA is Obama's SS!

[Road Glide]

“The existence of the EPA needs to be threatened.”

It needs to be more than just “threatened”.

Newt Gingrich was exactly right in his recent comments about the over-reach of the courts and judges that sit on their benches. I’m in complete agreement with him (and wrote about exactly those issues years ago on the old AOL message boards).

I think it’s time for Newt to come out and say what he thinks _really should be done_ with out-of-control regulatory agencies such as the EPA.

I have my own ideas on how to “fix” EPA, once and for all....

[Georgia Girl 2]

Time to shut down the EPA.

[TheWriterTX]

Spot on observation, Theo.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Hunton Peck.