Could federal carbon emission standards kill coal?

November 4, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Coal's affordability and reliability as an energy source, coupled with emission reduction technology, could give the United States a significant edge competitively over other countries, but instead regulators are squandering an opportunity by proposing emission standards that cannot be met with current technology, with the likely result of shutting down half of the country's coal-fired power plants. That is what the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance's CEO John Pippy testified to before the Congressional Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which is examining the effects of the Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory actions on jobs and local communities particularly reliant upon the coal.

The Kintigh Generating Station in Somerset, New York. Credit: Matthew D. Wilson (LtPowers)/Wikimedia Commons

Pippy objected to proposed federal carbon emission standards, which the Obama administration has said it will attempt to impose without input from Congress. The standards initiative could force the shutdown of approximately 225 U.S. coal-fired power plants.

"America's global leadership in emission reduction technology gives us a huge competitive advantage, and we should capitalize on that. Instead, we are unilaterally taking a domestic energy source out of the energy mix, at the cost of jobs, higher electricity prices and a less reliable grid, for something that won't even have significant environmental benefits," Pippy said. "A better solution would be to work collaboratively with energy stakeholders and encourage the development of newer emission reduction technology that will preserve our competitive advantage over developing countries such as India and China, and which will ultimately lead to greater environmental benefits globally."

Pippy noted that India and China are burning coal at significantly higher levels than the U.S. and that both countries have been increasing their reliance on coal, a trend that will only continue.

"These proposed regulations amount to unilateral economic disarmament," he said. "In essence, we're proposing to voluntarily tie one hand behind our back as we compete with these emerging giants in the global economic arena."

Pippy encourages collaboration similar to that of the American auto industry where federal regulators have collaborated to improve fuel efficiency standards, helping preserve the auto industry.

"That's what we should do here," Pippy said. "We can't afford the consequences of shutting down an industry that contributes to our economy on this level, and whose emerging technologies can help address environmental needs on a much more globally comprehensive scale."

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