Cramer and Mandan Small Business Owner Challenge EPA's Coal Regulation Scheme

Press Release

Today Congressman Kevin Cramer challenged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its pursuit of power plant regulations which threaten to dismantle the coal industry in the United States. Cramer was joined in a Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing, and a separate roundtable on the matter, by Perrie Schafer, owner of Environmental Services Ltd., a small business based in Mandan which provides services to the lignite coal industry in North Dakota. Rep. Cramer invited Schafer to Washington to offer his perspective on the rule during a roundtable convened by the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

The EPA has announced a proposed "Clean Power Plan", which would mark the first time in history the federal government has imposed carbon dioxide emissions restrictions on existing power plants. The plan would force each state to comply with specific restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions determined by the agency through increased efficiency at existing power plants, giving priority to non-coal units running on the grid for the first time ever, requiring the building of new renewable generation, and demanding end-user efficiency programs.

In order to hide the true economic cost of the rule, the EPA is claiming the total cost consumers pay for electricity will fall under its proposal. However, this lower total cost is deceptive because it is assumes consumers will reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10 percent and omits the costs of purchasing new air conditioners, new windows, or insulation the rule demands. In short, consumers would be forced to pay higher electricity rates, but use less electricity by making expensive home renovations.

"There will be debate for many years on whether climate change is real, but we know today this rule is real, and it will cripple our economy," said Cramer. "If we accept climate change is caused by humans, this so-called remedy is disastrous compared to climate change itself."

In May, Cramer requested the EPA have an extended comment period on the proposed rule for existing power plants. Yesterday, the EPA confirmed it would extend the comment period to December 1, 2014. Cramer and Schafer agree that while the comment period extension will allow electricity consumers more time to weigh in, the rule needs to be scrapped entirely.

"The EPA needs to go back to the drawing board and evaluate the disastrous effect these rules will have on small businesses and their employees. Hundreds of small businesses in North Dakota are engaged in the lignite industry, and they stand to face a tremendous impact," said Schafer.

Cramer has called on the EPA to rescind its proposed power plant regulations on multiple occasions. He is also an original cosponsor of the Electricity Security and Affordability Act which would terminate both the proposed rule for existing power plants and an earlier proposal for new power plants, and prevent the EPA from issuing a similar rule for five years, and require authorization by Congress to do so. This bill passed in the House on March 6, 2014 and is awaiting consideration in the Senate.

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