The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and the American Public Power Association (APPA) asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) twice in April to start a full Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) process for the federal implementation plan for Part 111(d) of the Clean Air Act.
“We welcome news that the EPA will hold a SBAR panel for the 111(d) regulation and strongly urge that it be a comprehensive process to fully understand the impact that the federal implementation plan will have on small businesses,” NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson said. “Sixty-two electric generation and transmission cooperatives qualify as small business entities and stand to experience enormous challenges, if not closure, from this regulation. It is imperative EPA fully and completely hear from all small entity parties as to the impact of this regulation before finalizing the rule.”
In June 2014, the EPA issued a proposed rule under Section 111(d) to create federal emission guidelines for carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The rule requires each state, with help from the EPA, to develop performance standards for existing stationary sources and a plan to achieve those standards.
“It’s only fair that EPA give public power utilities that qualify as small businesses an opportunity to be heard," APPA President and CEO Sue Kelly said. “Imposing undue burdens on these not-for-profit entities will adversely impact their ability to provide reliable electricity at affordable rates.”
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