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Finalized Carbon Regulations Take Direct Aim at Kansas
Families and businesses will suffer the consequences of EPA’s overreaching plan
WHO: Mike Duncan, president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity and former chairman of the Republican National Committee
WHAT: TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE
WHEN: Thursday, October 15th, 2015
HOW: Contact Grace Akan at Lyons PR to schedule an interview window (301) 583-5165, or at grace@lyonspr.com
WHY: President Obama announced finalized carbon regulations for his Clean Power Plan on August 3, despite more than a year of outcry from elected officials, energy experts, legal scholars, businesses and consumers. Among the many stakeholder concerns is EPA’s blatant disregard for the rights of states like Kansas to make its own energy decisions. Kansas regulators know the state’s electricity needs best, yet EPA is undermining their authority by mandating a transition from affordable coal-based power to more costly alternatives. Mike Duncan, president and CEO of ACCCE and former chairman of the RNC, will be available to discuss how Kansas is directly threatened by the overreaching energy transition EPA is imposing, the consequences of which will be sorely felt by the state’s families and businesses.
Kansas relies on coal for 61 percent of its electricity, a decision state regulators made to keep costs affordable and predictable for consumers and businesses. This is especially helpful for nearly half the states’ households, which already must pay all bills with less than $2,000 each month. Analysis by NERA Economic Consulting found EPA’s proposed rule would lead to double-digit electricity rate increases in nearly every state, including Kansas, which would be a devastating blow to the tight budgets of these families. Meanwhile, businesses will also have a difficult time operating under the strain of higher energy costs, forcing owners to raise the prices of goods and even downsize operations. Furthering the hardship on Kansans, EPA regulations seriously threaten more than 2,940 coal-related jobs in the state and 11,500 manufacturing jobs.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback denounced EPA for not adequately considering the negative impacts carbon regulations will have on rate payers, such as “higher electricity rates and greater uncertainty in grid reliability.” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is also actively opposing the rule, requesting last month that EPA halt its implementation.
Mike Duncan shares the sentiment of Kansas officials, saying “even in the face of damning analyses and scathing opposition from across the country, EPA is pursuing an illegal plan that will drive up electricity costs and put people out of work. Rest assured we won’t stop fighting this illegal and economically destructive rule.”
Former RNC Chairman and ACCCE President & CEO Mike Duncan will be available on
Thursday, October 15th to discuss what Americans can do to protect their jobs and affordable energy from overreaching federal regulations.
About ACCCE
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a partnership of the industries involved in producing electricity from coal. We recognize the inextricable linkage between energy, the economy and our environment. Toward that end, ACCCE supports policies that promote the use of coal, one of America’s largest domestically produced energy resources, to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of electricity to meet our nation’s growing demand for energy. We also recognize that technology has been a major driver in reducing the environmental impact of coal-based generation, and we are focused on supporting investments that will bring the next generation of advanced clean coal technologies to the marketplace to further reduce emissions – including the capture and safe storage of CO2 emissions.