Topic: EPA regs will shut down 28 GW of energy production

[Pandora]

Report brought to you by HotAir:

Now a new report from the Institute for Energy Research has identified an alarming number of additional plants which face a similar fate. The total cost to the power grid is a staggering 28 gigawatts of production.

    Currently, EPA is leading the Obama administration’s assault on coal with a number of new regulations. Two of the most important are the “transport rule” and the “toxics rule” (Utility MACT). Combined, these regulations will systematically reduce access to affordable and reliable energy. According to our report:

    EPA Regulations Will Close At Least 28 GW of Generating Capacity

    EPA modeling and power-plant operator announcements show that EPA regulations will close at least 28 gigawatts (GW) of American generating capacity, the equivalent of closing every power plant in the state of North Carolina or Indiana. Also, 28 GW is 8.9 percent of our total coal generating capacity.

    Current Retirements Almost Twice As High As EPA Predicted

    EPA’s power plant-level modeling projected that Agency regulations would close 14.5 GW of generating capacity. That number rises to 28 GW when including additional announced retirements related to EPA rules, almost twice the amount EPA projected. Moreover, this number will grow as plant operators continue to release their EPA compliance plans.

    Announced and Projected Retirements Higher Than Worst Case Scenarios

    Analysis by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the entity in charge of grid reliability, projected that EPA’s Transport Rule and Toxics Rule would close 20 GW of generating capacity. This list indicates that at least 28 GW will retire. EPA’s Transport Rule and Toxics Rule push U.S. energy security past the NERC worst case scenario.

Each closure represents less available energy which translates into higher utility bills for consumers, not to mention the possibility of new rolling blackouts during periods of high demand. This is above and beyond the costs incurred by producers to replace these plants where possible – costs which will also be passed on to you. Lest you think this is a problem mostly being faced by Texas, think again. Is your home state on this list?

Supposedly beginning January.  Unless this is stopped, by next summer, we will be sweltering our homes.  Expect to hear more reports of the energy companies imposing smart meters on their customers.

Our grands and great-grands must be spinning in their graves at the idea that, after decades spent extending electrical power to every nook and cranny in the country, these lunatics are systematically removing it.

[charlesoakwood]

Hey, hey, let's throw the EPA away.

Didn't they back off this conflagration?

[Pandora]

HotAir piece was written on the 8th, so, did they, since then?

[IronDioPriest]

Obama Tells Us Not to Drive SUV, Eat, or keep home at 72 degrees!

[Pandora]

Yep, imagine that.  And coming from a guy who avers that low taxes are not sufficient to support an industrial economy.

[charlesoakwood]

There's this:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016424700_apuscleanairepa.html
EPA rolls back air rule; Texas gets most leeway
 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed easing new pollution restrictions that angered several states and infuriated GOP presidential contender Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The proposed fix to the cross-state pollution rule would allow 10 states,
...

Perry said the changes proposed by the EPA "prove there are undeniable flaws" with the rule and that he will "continue to fight the job killing mandates passed down by this administration and the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA."

But EPA regional administrator Al Armendariz said the agency's decision to ease the standards had to do with new data and was not political. He also noted no changes have been made to the compliance calendar Texas and other states had criticized. The changes will also ease the restrictions for Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin and Arkansas.
...

But there could be other.. Hot Air lists other states also.

[charlesoakwood]

Man, they are quick, the barrage never ends. The Seattle Times article was dated the 6th and the Energy Institute report was released on the 7th.  Zonzabotches

ETA:
       A closer reading of the report indicates it is a counter offensive against the EPA closing these plants.
       Viewing the chart/list at the bottom is alarming.

 http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/2011/10/07/ier-identifies-coal-fired-power-plants-likely-to-close-as-result-of-epa-regulations/

[Libertas]

People should be rioting in the offices of their elected officials when the rate hikes come...

[Glock32]

People should be rioting in the offices of their elected officials when the rate hikes come...

Instead, as has been happening recently around here, they are filling up hearing rooms and directing all their ire at the evil power companies. This is all going to such a predictable plan: government imposes conditions that lead to crisis, blames the persons and entities who acquiesced to those demands for "causing" the crisis, and whips up the disaffected moron masses into doing their bidding. Top down, bottom up.

[Libertas]

People should be rioting in the offices of their elected officials when the rate hikes come...

Instead, as has been happening recently around here, they are filling up hearing rooms and directing all their ire at the evil power companies. This is all going to such a predictable plan: government imposes conditions that lead to crisis, blames the persons and entities who acquiesced to those demands for "causing" the crisis, and whips up the disaffected moron masses into doing their bidding. Top down, bottom up.

Indeed, but a lot of that blame can be laid at the feet of the companies.  They should be going on the offensive.  At the start of PUC hearings the company should itemize every stupid act politicians have enacted and illustrate their impact upon operations and costs and beat them over the head with it.  And they should produce commercials highlighting the same facts and call for the removal of the troublesome politicians and their costly regulations!

But no, they just want to bitch a little while grabbing their ankles.  They are cowards for not taking on the damned proglodytes!

So until the cost to the consumer reaches ridiculous levels there will never be any pressure applied to the politicians who gave us this fricken mess in the first place.

I am so tired of businesses kissing political ass and then cry about being wronged when they get bent over.

Stand up and fight, damnit!

[radioman]

Can we all sing "Turn out the lights"?

[AlanS]

Can we all sing "Turn out the lights"?

Not to fear! The government will soon replace the lost power with solar panels covering the entire west coast.

[Libertas]

Can we all sing "Turn out the lights"?

Not to fear! The government will soon replace the lost power with solar panels covering the entire west coast.

How will they keep illegal aliens off of it?

 

[charlesoakwood]

Breaking News:
Severe voltage drop in eastern seaboard power lines!!!
Aliens caught sleeping on solar panels to keep warm.

[Libertas]

 

Deploy the Big Squeegee!