|
 |
Posted on 06/16/2015 10:15:56 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
By 2016—which happens to be a presidential election year—American Electric Power Co. (AEP) will have retired more than 6,000 MW of coal-fired power plants. Last week, AEP CEO Nick Akins told a crowd during the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI’s) Annual Convention that AEP’s retired coal generation will not be resurrected because the U.S. is moving to a clean energy economy and that’s what electricity customers want.
I had a chance to meet up with Texas Sen. and Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on June 13 in Oklahoma City, so I asked him his thoughts on upcoming EPA regulations that already are affecting electric utilities such as AEP.
(click here to read previous coverage of the Republican candidates for president and their statements on energy policy)
“The Obama administration’s EPA has been unbelievably abusive and it is killing jobs across this country,” Cruz said. “The EPA … listen, everyone wants clean air and clean water. All of us breathe, all of us drink water. It is in our best interest to be good stewards of the environment. The Obama EPA is populated by zealots who aren’t trying to protect the air and water; they’re trying to shut down development. So we’ve seen— for example, you asked about coal—there is a war on coal being waged by the Obama administration. And let’s be clear. President Obama was very candid. He said we will bankrupt every coal mine in America. He didn’t hide what they’re doing. So these regulations are not about clear air or clean water. These are zealots who are trying to shut down development and the energy sector. And in particular, the oil and gas industry, something that is near and dear to the great state of Oklahoma, near and dear to the great state of Texas.
“The Obama administration continues to do everything it can to throw impediments in the way to developing our natural resources. That doesn’t make any sense at all. We’re experiencing an energy renaissance. We ought to be facilitating that rather than having the federal government frustrate it. No. 1, there are enormous national security benefits to American energy independence. We don’t need to be sending billions of dollars to foreign countries in the Middle East, many of whom hate us. We should be relying on our own resources.
“And beyond that, at a time when we’re facing economic stagnation, what an incredible opportunity to continue to generate millions of high-paying jobs—not just in the energy sector—but in manufacturing. You know, look at the blue-collar jobs, the heavy manufacturing, steel industry—the kind of jobs that were the backbone of the American middle class for decades. Those are the ones that have gone overseas. We had the opportunity to bring heavy manufacturing back to America; bring the steel industry back to America; compete with foreign countries like China, not based on low-cost labor. Lord knows we don’t want to compete based on low-cost labor—compete based on abundant energy resources we have here. And so everyone here agrees we want to protect our air and water, but we shouldn’t be handing over regulation to zealots.”
I’d love to talk to Hillary Clinton and any other presidential hopefuls, too. All of the candidates have open invitations to discuss their energy policies with Electric Light & Power.
|
|
Ted Cruz Ping! I never understood why the country wasn’t up in arms with a president who specifically said he was out to destroy a segment of our economy. How much more tyrannical can you get?
Plus, when those middle-aged in WVa and PA get laid off, where are they going to go? They likely have a family and house and can’t just pick up and move elsewhere very easily.
Saving the coal industry will save the jobs. And by extension the local and state economy.
In before the CDS (Cruz Derangement Syndrome) crowd vent their spleen?
We have the technology to burn coal and natural far cleaner than even China could ever achieve. Why not take full advantage of it as part of the plan to revive the US economy?
On coal? I guess that’s better than “on Marijuana” though it would leave soot on one’s face,
“the U.S. is moving to a clean energy economy and that’s what electricity customers want.”
I just want cheap rates. I don’t think most customers are wanting anything different.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.