Cramer-Statement on Unprecedented EPA Regulation

Press Release

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced unprecedented restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions to be imposed on individual states. Congressman Kevin Cramer said the proposed "Clean Power Plan" would be the first time in history the federal government has imposed such restrictions on existing power plants.

The plan would force each state to comply with specific restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions for existing power plants determined by the EPA. The emission limits announced for North Dakota are 1,817 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour (lbs CO2/MWh) by 2020, and 1,783 lbs CO2/MWh by 2030. The EPA estimates national compliance costs for the regulations will range from $5.4 billion to $7.4 billion annually beginning in 2020, before increasing to $7.3 billion to $8.8 billion beginning in 2030.

Emissions data from all seven coal-fired electricity generating plants in North Dakota indicate the Antelope Valley, Coal Creek, Coyote, Leland Olds, Milton R. Young, R.M. Heskett, and Stanton stations each produced between 2,033 and 3,020 lbs CO2/MWh from 2007 to 2012. These coal plants provided 79% of North Dakota's electricity in 2013, while also providing electricity to other states in the Upper Midwest.

"The EPA has reached a new level of irresponsibility in its reckless pursuit of an extreme environmental agenda which pushes the average energy consumer off to the wayside. The high costs of these unprecedented regulations will be pushed onto the energy bills of citizens and businesses. It is astonishing how out of touch the Obama Administration is with the American people, many of whom can't afford to pay more than they already do for electricity," said Cramer.

The lignite coal industry alone directly employs 4,097 people in North Dakota, and generates $3.5 billion in annual business activity. 13,347 indirect employees supply the industry with goods and services, for a total employment of 17,444.

Earlier this year Cramer helped introduce the Electricity Security and Affordability Act which would prevent the Obama Administration from going forward with such regulations by requiring Congressional approval. The legislation passed the House of Representatives on March 6, but has not been considered by the Senate.

"Even when the President's political party controlled both chambers of Congress, he could not pass cap-and-trade five years ago. Now the Administration is circumventing the legislative process by allowing unelected bureaucrats to direct energy policy by executive fiat," Cramer added.

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