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Democratic Senator: Environmental Protection Agency Out of Control
CNSNews ^ | June 10, 2011 | Susan Jones

Posted on 06/10/2011 10:31:06 AM PDT by jazusamo

(CNSNews.com) - Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, the former governor of coal-producing West Virginia, is blasting the Obama administration for using the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate coal-fueled power plants out of business.

On Thursday, American Electric Power company announced that to comply with a series of EPA regulations, it will close five coal-fired plants -- three in West Virginia and one each in Ohio and Virginia -- at a net cost of 600 jobs.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states.

"We have worked for months to develop a compliance plan that will mitigate the impact of these rules for our customers and preserve jobs, but because of the unrealistic compliance timelines in the EPA proposals, we will have to prematurely shut down nearly 25 percent of our current coal-fueled generating capacity, cut hundreds of good power plant jobs, and invest billions of dollars in capital to retire, retrofit and replace coal-fueled power plants," said AEP Chairman and CEO Michael G. Morris.

"The sudden increase in electricity rates and impacts on state economies will be significant at a time when people and states are still struggling,” he added.

The plant closures in West Virginia alone will result in 242 lost jobs -- "and that's simply wrong," Manchin said:

“Let me be clear, it’s decisions like the one made by AEP today that demonstrate the urgent need to rein in government agencies like the EPA, preventing them from overstepping their bounds and imposing regulations that not only cost us good American jobs, but hurt our economy.

“It is because of out-of-control agencies like the EPA as well as the need to protect American jobs that I sponsored the REINS Act -- a commonsense measure that will help protect and create jobs by reigning in needless or burdensome regulations, and that will put responsibility back where it belongs – in the hands of the people who are elected to govern and lead this great nation,” Manchin concluded.

During his campaign for president, Barack Obama admitted that "if somebody wants to build a coal fired plant, they can. It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

VIDEO 36 seconds

The cost of AEP’s compliance plan could range from $6-$8 billion in capital investment through the end of the decade, the company said. That's in addition to the $7.2 billion that AEP has invested since 1990 to reduce emissions from its coal-fired plants.

The company noted that annual emissions of nitrogen oxides from AEP plants are 80 percent lower today than they were in 1990, and sulfur dioxide emissions are 73 percent lower than they were in 1990.

“We support regulations that achieve long-term environmental benefits while protecting customers, the economy and the reliability of the electric grid, but the cumulative impacts of the EPA’s current regulatory path have been vastly underestimated, particularly in Midwest states dependent on coal to fuel their economies, AEP said.

The company said while some jobs will be created from the installation of emissions-reduction equipment, AEP expects a net loss of around 600 power plant jobs with annual wages totaling approximately $40 million as a result of complying with the proposed EPA rules.

“We will continue to work through the EPA process with the hope that the agency will recognize the cumulative impact of the proposed rules and develop a more reasonable compliance schedule. We also will continue talking with lawmakers in Washington about a legislative approach that would achieve the same long-term environmental goals with less negative impact on jobs and the U.S. economy,” Morris said.

“With more time and flexibility, we will get to the same level of emission reductions, but it will cost our customers less and will prevent premature job losses, extend the construction job benefits, and ensure the ongoing reliability of the electric system.”

AEP said the following plants will be closed by the end of 2014:

-- Glen Lyn Plant, Glen Lyn, Va.
-- Kammer Plant, Moundsville, W.Va.
-- Kanawha River Plant, Glasgow, W.Va.
-- Phillip Sporn Plant, New Haven, W.Va.
-- Picway Plant, Lockbourne, Ohio

In addition, AEP plans to scale back power generation at six plants.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coal; energy; epa; jobs; obama; obamnomics; va; wv
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To: jazusamo
Old Joe Manchin has turned out to be exactly what I thought he would be. He talks a good game but votes Dem when it matters—like when he voted for Harry Reid for majority leader. Joe can rail against the EPA til he is blue in the face but it doesn't mean anything without coordinated House and Senate action, which Joe effectively has prevented.

The Manchin / Raese race was one of the few where I sent money to a candidate outside of my state precisely because keeping Manchin out was critical for these reasons.

21 posted on 06/10/2011 10:46:43 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: jazusamo; don-o

I went on a tear and posted a bunch of info on don-o’s thread on the plant closings.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2732691/posts

The states involved are heavily reliant on coal.......
W Va and maybe OH will be more broke than they already are.


22 posted on 06/10/2011 10:47:14 AM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto.)
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To: jazusamo
So, AEP closes these plants, and decreases production in others. How is the loss in electricity production going to be made up? Is somebody going to build a nuclear plant? More coal plants?

I didn't know there was that much excess generating capacity. Who are people going to blame when the light start going out?

23 posted on 06/10/2011 10:47:40 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (Slugs and Bitter Clingers Unite.)
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To: jazusamo

Let’s see:

AEP plans to close 6 plants and cut back energy production at six other plants.

What will that cost people?

What will be the impact on their lives?


24 posted on 06/10/2011 10:47:57 AM PDT by Vendome ("Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it anyway")
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To: muawiyah

Manchin knows but probably won’t do anything besides talk loud that the Obama, liberal, tree hugging, anti energy EPA is killing jobs in WV and other states.

He needs to side with anyone in the Senate that will shoot down the EPA and anti-energy people.


25 posted on 06/10/2011 10:48:11 AM PDT by jazusamo (His [Obama's] political base---the young, the left and the thoughtless: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Bullseye!

26 posted on 06/10/2011 10:48:11 AM PDT by Fido969
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To: Red Badger

He ought to consider leaving the Democrats and joining the GOP. Last time I heard the Democratic Party wouldn’t care too much, and he could probably have some of his way through membership in the new party. The option is always there.


27 posted on 06/10/2011 10:49:31 AM PDT by Morpheus2009
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To: NativeSon

He was the governor of West Virginia, took Byrd’s place. His state is a big coal producer. He may actually do something about it instead of grandstanding the issue. Other states, PA, VA, OH, IL, IN among others are also coal producers. He has to get allies on both sides of the aisle, and on this issue he may find fertile ground. Coal=jobs=campaign contributions=votes. The Miners unions better get their rank and file in gear, else there won’t be any..................


28 posted on 06/10/2011 10:50:22 AM PDT by Red Badger (Nothing is a 'right' if someone has to give it to you................)
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To: jazusamo

He’s had how many years to yell about it, and he only notices NOW when the elections are next year?
What a dirtbag.


29 posted on 06/10/2011 10:50:26 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: jazusamo

Okay— there are three possibilities here:
1. There is a sane Democrat
2. He will switch parties.
3. He’s afraid of losing in coal-rich WV next year.


30 posted on 06/10/2011 10:50:29 AM PDT by therightliveswithus
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To: Darksheare

He took Byrd’s place. He hasn’t been there that long...............


31 posted on 06/10/2011 10:51:15 AM PDT by Red Badger (Nothing is a 'right' if someone has to give it to you................)
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To: jazusamo

The Great Usurper made it plain when he was campaigning he would close these plants and skyrocket electricity bills and the hard of thinking F’N MORONS in this country still voted him into office. Oh this country’s population is in dire need of a serious THINNING.


32 posted on 06/10/2011 10:51:25 AM PDT by NWFLConservative (Game On!.................Saracuda 2012)
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“BREAKING: Obama Pledges to Regulate CO2 from Coal Plants”
Jesse Jenkins, Feb, 2009
http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/02/17/breaking-obama-pledges-to-regulate-co2-from-coal-plants/


33 posted on 06/10/2011 10:51:41 AM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto.)
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To: NativeSon

It’s ass-saving. He knows that if he doesn’t oppose Obama on this, in West Virginia, a state where coal and its associated industries (like power generation) are big kahunas, he’s toast. He’ll never get re-elected.

WV is a purple state that’s socially pretty conservative but has a heavy union influence thanks to the historic role of the United Mine Workers of America, so it tends to skew toward the “blue dog” social conservative, 2A-supporting, blue-collar truck-driving Democrat. That’s what Manchin’s trying to be. It may or may not work as the Rats slide further left and the environazis and Commies squeeze out the working stiffs like the WV coal miners.

}:-)4


34 posted on 06/10/2011 10:52:54 AM PDT by Moose4 ("By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!")
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To: jazusamo
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has supported Obama’s campaign since it began.

“The claims you are hearing from the McCain-Palin campaign are misleading and untrue,” Rockefeller said in a news release. “Barack Obama has been very clear with me and with you on his plan for clean coal and it’s the most aggressive plan in support of clean coal we’ve seen from any presidential candidate.

“The idea that the McCain-Palin campaign is alleging the day before the election that Barack Obama’s commitment to coal is anything but solid is absolutely ridiculous,” he added.

“This is exactly the kind of deceptive politicking voters are fed up with.”

http://www.hsconnect.com/page/content.detail/id/511265.html?nav=5010,/a>

I wonder what Rockefeller has to say now.

35 posted on 06/10/2011 10:53:17 AM PDT by lowbridge (Rep. Dingell: "Its taken a long time.....to control the people.")
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To: Red Badger

Didn’t know that.
But still, he picks NOW to whine about it?


36 posted on 06/10/2011 10:53:20 AM PDT by Darksheare (You will never defeat Bok Choy!)
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To: Vendome

“The costs of complying with the regulations will result in an increase in electricity prices of 10 to 35 percent and cost 600 jobs, AEP said.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/165651-aep-epa-regs-will-cost-billions-and-result-in-five-closed-plants


37 posted on 06/10/2011 10:54:16 AM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto.)
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To: Darksheare

The AEP plant closings was probably a wake-up call. His Miners unions supporters are probably freaking out......................


38 posted on 06/10/2011 10:54:46 AM PDT by Red Badger (Nothing is a 'right' if someone has to give it to you................)
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To: jazusamo
Wow, it seems like just yesterday I was saying...

Fines and penalties to rural counties hat have no significant level of manufacturing, shutting down power plants that are the only sources of power in the region, collapsing local economies, closing farming and cattle operations.

Oh... it WAS just yesterday.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2732491/posts?page=15#15

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2732621/posts?page=4#4>

And little Ø' Bammy claims he is running for reelection?

B.S. He is fleecing the dummies for their money before he is canned in 2012.

.


39 posted on 06/10/2011 10:54:54 AM PDT by TLI ( ITINERIS IMPENDEO VALHALLA)
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To: Impy

Well said.


40 posted on 06/10/2011 10:54:54 AM PDT by LeonardFMason
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