Jroc
יעקב כהן
- Oct 19, 2010
- 19,815
- 6,471
I guess the unions should have thought of this before supporting Obama in the first place![eusa_eh :eusa_eh: :eusa_eh:](/styles/smilies/eusa_eh.gif)
Six Unions Call for Senate Hearing on EPA Coal Regulations ? Wyoming Energy News
![eusa_eh :eusa_eh: :eusa_eh:](/styles/smilies/eusa_eh.gif)
Dear Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Murkowski:
During promulgation of the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule, our unions consistently raised concerns regarding the short timeframe available for compliance and the devastating effects on jobs, especially good-paying middle-class employment in the coal-fired electricity generation sector. During the rulemaking process our unions stated for the record that MATS and its short compliance timeline would result in the closing of 56 Gigawatts of coal-fired generation and the loss of approximately 250,000 jobs. Despite assurances by EPA to the contrary, our prediction is now coming to pass.
As the deadline for compliance with MATS approaches, we are increasingly concerned with the effect of a short compliance timeline as hundreds of coal generating units retire and are permanently removed from service. Our concerns are compounded by the reduction in utility revenues from existing generation, increased reliance on demand response, and from unregulated distributed generation. These reduced revenues may increase the number of coal and possibly nuclear plant retirements as available income will not justify maintaining and/or retrofitting the remaining plants. Needless to say, the more plants that retire, the more jobs will be lost. In addition, as these plants retire, sufficient generation assets to meet demand become questionable, as witnessed by the astronomical electric price spikes during the recent polar vortex.
With these concerns in mind, we respectfully request the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on the effects of MATS on the regional transmission organization (RTO) markets and their preparedness for generation retirements in the 2015-2017 timeframe. A hearing would be timely and beneficial. Please contact Jim Hunter at (202) 728-6065 or via email at [email protected] if you or your staff would like to discuss these matters further. Thank you for considering our request and we hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Newton B. Jones
International President
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
Edwin D. Hill
International President
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Robert A. Scardelletti
International President
Transportation Communications Union/IAM
John Previsich
President
SMART Transportation Division
Cecil E. Roberts, Jr.
International President
United Mine Workers of America
D. Michael Langford
Utility Workers Union of America
Six Unions Call for Senate Hearing on EPA Coal Regulations ? Wyoming Energy News