Coal proponents sent President Obama a birthday message on Tuesday, none too pleased that his present was delivered a day early in the form of strict climate rules for coal plants.
The Environmental Protection Agency “gave President Obama his birthday present a day early – his political legacy tied up in a bow – a bow comprised of hardworking Americans hopes and dreams for a bright economic future,” said Laura Sheehan, senior vice president of communications for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.
President Obama turns 54 on Tuesday. EPA issued the Clean Power Plan on Monday. The plan places states on the hook to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants 32 percent by 2030. It is also part of the president’s plan to secure a global agreement on climate change at the end of the year on Paris.
While the administration touts the plan’s flexibility in meeting the EPA plan’s targets, Republicans, states and the fossil fuel industry say they are wary of the increased costs it will impose on working families through higher electricity prices.
“EPA’s gift is devastating to low and middle income families across the country who are already struggling to make ends meet and spending a disproportionate amount of their hard-earned dollars on energy,” Sheehan said. While she says her group is beginning a new cost assessment of the final rule, Sheehan points out that a previous study by NERA Consulting shows double-digit price increases for electric bills under the rules.
The president on Monday dismissed such rhetoric as “scaremongering tactics.” He said the criticisms of the rule amount to “excuses for inaction.” It harkens back to the 1970s when EPA initiated the ban on lead gasoline, he said. Back then, the auto industry said the ban would kill their industry and erode jobs, Obama explained. “It didn’t happen,” he said. Instead, “[c]atalytic converters worked. Taking the lead out of gasoline worked. Our air got cleaner.”
Obama also pointed out that these environmental reforms happened under the watch of Republican President Richard Nixon.
“While President Obama celebrates the work of EPA on his birthday, 19 million others who share his birthday are left wondering why they must pay so he can celebrate a misguided crusade that other world leaders are rejecting,” Sheehan said.
Sheehan points out that Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made clear on trips to the U.S. and Canada last year that his country would not be endorsing a similar climate plan as the one discussed by Obama.
She also said that Chinese officials, despite signing onto an emission reduction agreement with the U.S., would not be moving quickly to employ similar rules in their country.
Although China is investing in some of the largest renewable energy projects in the world, it still remains a huge consumer of coal to meet its electricity needs. Sheehan argues that statements by Chinese officials indicate they will not consider any sort of emissions cap in the near term because of the effect it would have on the economy.
Nevertheless, China does say it plans to tackle pollution problems by capping coal use in 2020. But even environmental groups, who have wanted to see China succeed in initiating a cap, have raised skepticism.
