Republicans query EPA ‘good neighbor’ rule
The EPA’s not too long ago finalized rule meant to assist downwind states attain air high quality requirements has drawn the ire of Republican leaders who’ve questioned whether or not the company has adequately thought-about its results on trade and electrical era.
On March 15 the EPA finalized its “good neighbor” plan, which goals to cut back cross-state smog air pollution from energy vegetation and different industrial sources by requiring the usage of emissions discount applied sciences. Starting throughout this yr’s summer time ozone season, energy vegetation in 22 states will probably be required to take part in a revised cap-and-trade program the place the company units emission budgets that can decline over time.
The company estimated that the plan will cut back ozone-forming nitrous oxide emissions by roughly 70,000 tons through the 2026 ozone season. It additionally estimated it’ll stop 1,300 untimely deaths, cut back hospital visits and will have financial advantages as excessive as $15 billion, which it stated would far outweigh the price of compliance.
The rule was met with skepticism from many Republicans and trade teams. At a Thursday listening to on the rule, Senate Surroundings and Public Works rating member Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., referred to the rule as “concentrating on states which might be vitality suppliers and in our nation and our industrial heartland.”
The EPA estimates that there will probably be a 1 p.c improve in retail electrical energy costs on common throughout the contiguous U.S., coal-fired electrical energy era will decline by an estimated 4 p.c whereas pure fuel and renewable electrical energy era are estimated to extend by 2 p.c and 1 p.c, respectively.
