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Getting ready for a wave of coal-plant shutdowns
Washington Post ^ | 8/20/11 | Brad Plumer

Posted on 08/20/2011 10:11:43 PM PDT by Why_are_Democrats_stupid?

Over the next 18 months, the Environmental Protection Agency will finalize a flurry of new rules to curb pollution from coal-fired power plants. Mercury, smog, ozone, greenhouse gases, water intake, coal ash—it’s all getting regulated. And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling.

Industry groups such the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, and the American Legislative Exchange Council have dubbed the coming rules “EPA’s Regulatory Train Wreck.” The regulations, they say, will cost utilities up to $129 billion and force them to retire one-fifth of coal capacity. Given that coal provides 45 percent of the country’s power, that means higher electric bills, more blackouts and fewer jobs. The doomsday scenario has alarmed Republicans in the House, who have been scrambling to block the measures. Environmental groups retort that the rules will bring sizeable public health benefits, and that industry groups have been exaggerating the costs of environmental regulations since they were first created.

So, who’s right? This month, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, which conducts policy research for members of Congress, has been circulating a paper that tries to calmly sort through the shouting match. Thanks to The Hill’s Andrew Restuccia, it’s now available (PDF) for all to read. And the upshot is that CRS is awfully skeptical of the “train wreck” predictions.

First, the report agrees that the new rules will likely force the closure of many coal plants between now and 2017, although it’s difficult to know precisely how many. For green groups, that’s a feature, not a bug: Many of these will be the oldest and dirtiest plants around. About 110 gigawatts, or one-third of all coal capacity in the United States, came online between 1940 and 1969.


(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government
KEYWORDS: coal; coldfusion; electricity; energyprices; epa; necessarilyskyrocket; obama; regulations
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To: JimSEA
GreenEnergy2
No Plan, No Leadership!
21 posted on 08/20/2011 10:54:42 PM PDT by BobP (The piss-stream media - Never to be watched again in my house)
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To: Lazlo in PA

“LBJ ‘68”.

I’ve been saying that for a couple months. By logic I don’t see how a person can in good conscience run again with this going on. But he sure doesn’t sound like someone who is leaning towards not running. It was March of ‘68 when LBJ announced his intentions. Eight months before the election. If B.O. announces that now, Hillary would time to step in. Thats no solution. That would be the same or worse. The two are the same. We can only hope B.O, (and I do mean B.O.), runs out of steam in March of ‘12.


22 posted on 08/20/2011 10:56:00 PM PDT by barstoolblues (Notes from the Hobbitt hole. By Hezbollah Hobbitt.)
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To: Lazlo in PA

“LBJ ‘68”.

I’ve been saying that for a couple months. By logic I don’t see how a person can in good conscience run again with this going on. But he sure doesn’t sound like someone who is leaning towards not running. It was March of ‘68 when LBJ announced his intentions. Eight months before the election. If B.O. announces that now, Hillary would time to step in. Thats no solution. That would be the same or worse. The two are the same. We can only hope B.O, (and I do mean B.O.), runs out of steam in March of ‘12.


23 posted on 08/20/2011 10:56:15 PM PDT by barstoolblues (Notes from the Hobbitt hole. By Hezbollah Hobbitt.)
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To: rfp1234

Manchin won’t do that. He’s a DINO.


24 posted on 08/20/2011 11:06:32 PM PDT by meatloaf (It's time to push back against out of control government.)
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To: Cowboy Bob

The coal will go overseas just like the huge natural gas surplus that’s just getting bigger with the shale drilling.


25 posted on 08/20/2011 11:11:24 PM PDT by meatloaf (It's time to push back against out of control government.)
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To: Cowboy Bob

UMW’s Trumka is, or at least was, in O’s pocket. Of course he is a communist lawyer, not a miner.


26 posted on 08/20/2011 11:14:49 PM PDT by JimSEA (The future ain't what it used to be.)
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To: Why_are_Democrats_stupid?
And, not surprisingly, some lawmakers are grumbling

Our sitting on their BFA lawmakers need to stop grumbling and start closing down out of control federal agencies like the EPA. Their office can't exist if they are not funded. Congress can and eventually must put an end to EPA's overreach. First step should be not paying the agencies electric bill to show them what the nations power grid will be like under the EPA's insane meddling.

27 posted on 08/20/2011 11:22:28 PM PDT by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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To: 21twelve

So will the costs of manufacturing. That means more jobs heading overseas. There’s a relatively simple way to neuter the EPA. Currently the EPA does not need to do a cost benefit analysis of the effects of new regulations. By requiring that along with including the effects on jobs and the effects of increased pollution in foreign countries with little or no environmental regulations, the EPA would be looking at some shocking numbers.

An example would be battery recycling that was forced out of this country to other countries with no child labor laws. What was the impact of that?

For those of you that live in voting districts represented by Republicans, get on the phone and pitch the cost benefit analysis requirement. I’m calling on Monday.


28 posted on 08/20/2011 11:32:56 PM PDT by meatloaf (It's time to push back against out of control government.)
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To: BobP
Sadly, Bobp, he has a plan. He isn't even secretive about it.

He said during his campaign “under my plan energy prices would necessarily increase”.

His supporters cheered.

29 posted on 08/20/2011 11:34:01 PM PDT by berdie
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To: meatloaf

“For those of you that live in voting districts represented by Republicans, get on the phone and pitch the cost benefit analysis requirement. I’m calling on Monday.”

Great idea. I was working at a gravel pit today that is trying to reopen. Most of the others around have been closed down due to evironmental permits, noise, etc. This one is trying to mitigate the noise effects on nearby neighbors. Of course the neighbors moved in after the pit had already been in operation for 20 years!

But all of the added costs really hinder the development of our resources. I just read where Germany got out of the Depression by exploiting natural resources. Granted, they were resources from the countries they invaded. But we need to invade our own country and smash through the barriers of evironmental regulations and wilderness designations.

Not to rape the land, but to use the resources it has in a reasonable and conservationist manner. And as one who loves the outdoors and the natural environment, I can guarantee that even if half of our regulations were dismantled we would still be far better stewards of the land than the Chinese, Indonesians, etc. will ever be.

I was also wondering how much fuel and carbon is put out when the Chinese ship us boatloads of gravel and cement and trees and iron and..... to us? Doesn’t THAT bother the Greenies?


30 posted on 08/20/2011 11:50:52 PM PDT by 21twelve (Obama Recreating the New Deal: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts)
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To: Lazlo in PA
I don’t see how he runs again. LBJ ‘68.

The Marxist pig will make sure "his" people are taken care of. 2012 will be the most critical in well over 150 years. I truly despise supporters of Obama. They are participating in the destruction of our Republic.

The MSM will find a way to convince a majority of idiot American's that it's the Tea Party's fault that rates are rising.

31 posted on 08/20/2011 11:51:04 PM PDT by sand88 (Sarah Palin announces: August 12, Opps!! didn't happen :)
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To: Cowboy Bob
No comments from Sen. Jay Rockefeller, or Sen. Joe Manchin?

The could care less. They will just give lip service. The EPA needs to be disbanded. All employees of the EPA need to be fired, their assets seized. All buildings that housed the EPA need to be destroyed and the ground salted.

The EPA is filled with the most rabid of anti-Capitialist and anti-American TRAITORS. They do not deserve to be Americans.

32 posted on 08/20/2011 11:56:14 PM PDT by sand88 (Sarah Palin announces: August 12, Opps!! didn't happen :)
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To: Why_are_Democrats_stupid?
The EPA is one of the main economic wrecking crews operating out of Washington D.C..This is preposterous and needs to be stopped. Also, the possible radon scams going on need to be investigated, as well. In the US, the baseline is 4, in Canada it is 20. So, if a homeowner registers 4.5, the treatment has to be done..The system is set up so the inspector, not certified, can make the diagnosis and offer the treatment as well, gaining profit for him and, or his buddies. It is even possible that Realtors might get some benefit from all that. Is this an opportunity for corruption?? You bet it is! And, I am guessing that the schemes behind all of these coal regulations offer big corrupt opportunities, too.
33 posted on 08/21/2011 1:04:19 AM PDT by jazzlite (esat)
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To: Cowboy Bob

Eastern coal mining states voted Obama.


34 posted on 08/21/2011 1:12:12 AM PDT by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
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To: Why_are_Democrats_stupid?

Andrea Rossi will pick up these plants for pennies on the dollar and convert them to Ecat plants.

The future of nuclear is cold fusion.

Tunneling Beneath the 4He Fragmentation Energy
J. Condensed Matter Nucl. Sci. 4 (2011) pages 241–255 ^ | February 2011 | K P Sinha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2743039/posts
Posted on Friday, July 01, 2011 10:45:05 PM by Kevmo
J. Condensed Matter Nucl. Sci. 4 (2011) pages 241–255

A model for enhanced fusion reaction in a solid matrix of metal deuterides
Wednesday, June 08, 2011 10:14:09 PM · by Kevmo · 35 replies
International Conference on Condensed Matter Nuclear Science. 2008 ^ | July 2008 | K P Sinha
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2732072/posts

Cold Fusion #1 Claims NASA Chief (Focardi & Rossi - not cold fusion but close enough)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2730240/posts
Sunday, June 05, 2011 11:56:09 AM · by Titus-Maximus · 52 replies

How to Prove that the Rossi/Focardi eCAT LENR is Real
LENR.QUMBO.com ^ | April 6, 2011 | Alan Fletcher
Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2011 7:52:15 PM by Kevmo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2730401/posts

How I Made Money from Cold Fusion
Saturday, January 23, 2010 12:28:49 PM · by Kevmo · 28 replies · 1,013+ views
Exclusive Article for Free Republic | 1/23/10 | Kevmo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2435697/posts

HOW TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY
Friday, December 31, 2010 1:57:41 AM · by Kevmo · 40 replies The American Reporter ^ | December 29, 2010 | Joe Shea
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2649712/posts

Re-Analysis of the Marinov Light-Speed Anisotropy Experiment
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2270920/posts
Friday, June 12, 2009 11:25:41 PM · by Kevmo · 27 replies · 1,027+ views
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/physics/pdf/0612/0612201v2.pdf ^ | Reginald T. Cahill

The Suppression of Inconvenient Facts in Physics
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2266921/posts
Sunday, June 07, 2009 7:50:26 PM · by Kevmo · 78 replies · 1,626+ views Suppressed Science.Net ^ | 12/06/08 | http://www.suppressedscience.net/

The End of Snide Remarks Against Cold Fusion
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2265914/posts
Friday, June 05, 2009 5:56:08 PM · by Kevmo · 95 replies · 1,770+ views
Free Republic, Gravitronics.net and Intrade ^ | 6/5/09 | kevmo, et al

‘Cold Fusion’ Rebirth? New Evidence For Existence Of Controversial Energy Source
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2212864/posts
Monday, March 23, 2009 12:42:14 PM · by FlameThrower · 35 replies · 1,586+ views
Science Daily ^ | Mar. 23, 2009 | American Chemical Society


35 posted on 08/21/2011 1:16:31 AM PDT by Kevmo (Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn't make any sense at all. ~Ronald Reagan)
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To: 21twelve
When the supply is restricted, it uncommon for prices to go up. I am continuously amazed how many at this conservative site are anti business and prone to ascribe conspiracy theories to practices easily explained by basic economics.

That $128 billion needed investment is what these conspiracy theorists conveniently ignore or purposely suppress.

36 posted on 08/21/2011 1:48:44 AM PDT by monocle
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To: barstoolblues
I don’t see how a person can in good conscience run again with this going on.

We are not dealing with a president who has a conscience. He is a sociopath whose primary characteristic is being a human-like creature without a conscience (or the ability to feel any emotion).

37 posted on 08/21/2011 2:18:23 AM PDT by NoControllingLegalAuthority (Where is the middle ground on insolvency of the United States government?)
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To: Why_are_Democrats_stupid?
Perry's been fighting this and people besides the EPA have noticed.

Perry environmental stance would transform EPA ....>>>>>Perry "approaches the issues from a very libertarian bent," said Jim DiPeso , policy director of Republicans for Environmental Protection. "The EPA would be in for some significant budget reduction. There would be no new intiatives, no regulatory programs that would be initated. There'd be litigation from environmental groups that believe he's not enforcing the Clean Air Act and Water Act as robustly as the law provides."

"Any regulatory programs would be really throttled back," he said. "He has shown no interest in climate policy at all. He doesn't accept the science."

With the governor's blessing, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is challenging at least six EPA greenhouse gas-related regulations. The state's underlying argument: The fundamental finding that greenhouse gases are a public health threat is scientifically flawed.

The federal government is pushing "hastily enacted, cascading regulations" on states and businesses, Abbott argued in a June brief filed on behalf of nine states in federal court.

Perry's approach to energy, DiPeso said, "would be to produce more," rather than discourage the development of energy projects, such as coal plants, that emit greenhouse gases associated with global warming.

"In terms of energy, (Perry) would pursue what many Republicans call the 'all of the above' strategy, with more energy development offshore and onshore," DiPeso said. <<<<<

Finding middle ground on EPA-Texas electric squabble [EPA doesn’t do “middle” ground] “Texas' grudge match with the Environmental Protection Agency is getting nastier and riskier, with the fallout threatening to reach the state's power grid. Want another reason to worry about the lights staying on? Or how about another hit to the economy? You've heard lots of political posturing about Texas' way of life being threatened by an overreaching federal government. This time, Gov. Rick Perry has a point. …………..

Don't be surprised if the attorney general jumps in after Perry slammed the rule for threatening Texas jobs and families and putting reliable, affordable electricity at risk. Late last week, 31 members of Congress from Texas, including eight Democrats, signed a letter to the White House asking for relief. The utility commission also filed objections with the EPA.

MONTANA: Legal gamesmanship threatens our energy future “Texas Gov. Rick Perry is able to boast about job growth under his watch, noting that over 265,000 jobs, or nearly 37 percent of the jobs created nationwide since the summer of 2009, have been created in the Lone Star state.

Recent headlines highlight two major resource development projects slogging through endless legal and regulatory challenges. Investment flees this kind of uncertainty, so Montanans interested in the future economic stability of this state should be wary of the signals we send…” --- [relates short history of 2 outrageous examples] --

“The common experience for Tongue River Railroad and Tonbridge Power is this: Even if you play by the rules, even if you follow the letter of the law, even if you engage with the public during a planning process, even if you get formal approval from the regulatory authorities, you are certain to face organized opposition whose sole intent is to frustrate project development to the point of financial starvation…...................”

CALIFORNIA: …..“Texas Gov. Rick Perry has become a folk hero for people like Stewart as he's marketed his state as a low-cost and business-friendly alternative to California, which is fertile job-hunting ground for Perry.

Texas has added 929,000 jobs since 2001, while California has lost approximately 635,000 manufacturing jobs in that same time, Stewart said.

Answering questions after his speech, Stewart told the story of Perry sending programmed cellphones to CEOs in California with a simple message: "If you're interested in growing your business, please call me. I'm here to help."

"They're doing something right down there," Stewart said of what he dubs the "Texas miracle." "Gov. Perry will go anywhere, any time, to try to recruit companies into Texas."

Perry has taken the state's regulatory process and managed it himself, Stewart said………

[CA Economic Development Corporation President Mark] Lascelles emphasized that it does no good to belabor California's regulatory environment.

"Unfortunately, we can't avoid it. We have to deal with it," he said. Speaker focuses on job

38 posted on 08/21/2011 2:18:28 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Why_are_Democrats_stupid?

What would happen IF.. Alaskas HUGE supply of coal was capitalized on mined and sent to CHINA...
PAY them off with an absolutely HUGE amount of coal mined in Alaska.. and shipped to China.. at a discount..

Alaska has SO MUCH coal, so much, that it dwarfs the supply in several eastern States.. maybe all of them..
Actually most of Alaska has coal seams a bit under the surface..

We can’t use it... BUT we could ship it all to China and India.. in huge barges..


39 posted on 08/21/2011 3:07:37 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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To: hosepipe

Akaska has so much coal it could supply most of the world for several hundred YEARS... maybe a millennium..


40 posted on 08/21/2011 3:09:46 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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