IECA testifies against EPA Clean Power Plan proposal

The Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) testified Tuesday against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan rule and in support of the Ratepayer Protection Act, which was introduced to combat it.

Speaking before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, the IECA opposed the EPA’s rule on several counts due to the perceived burden of extra costs for ratepayers, primarily focusing on the rule’s real world benefits. According to the IECA, the Clean Power Plan would result in greenhouse gas leakage, which means that emissions reduced from American totals would be transferred offshore, giving U.S. competitors an economic advantage over domestic companies. As an example, the testimony cited China, which already produces 29 percent more manufactured goods than the U.S. and 317 times more carbon dioxide.

The IECA also anticipates this effect between states, with industries moving across borders to chase lower power rates. In addition to the issue of greenhouse gas leakage, the IECA testified that a lack of flexibility under the plan would lead to higher cost increases than the EPA has anticipated, and argued that the plan’s goes beyond the scope of the Clean Air Act by dictating policy.