IECA supports Senate Joint Resolution disapproving of Clean Power Plan

Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) President Paul N. Cicio sent a letter this week to U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), chairman of the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, supporting the passage of a joint resolution opposing the Clean Power Plan.

S.J. Res 24 shows congressional disapproval of the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to regulate carbon emissions from new and existing fossil fuel fired power plants.

“It is inconsistent for the Obama Administration to tout support for middle class job creation, while continuing to increase energy costs and barriers to producing manufactured goods in the U.S.,” Cicio said. “IECA companies are energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries, which means that relatively small changes to the price of energy can have significant negative impacts to our competitiveness.”

According to Cicio, EITE industries are some of the largest users of energy within the manufacturing sector, accounting for 82 percent of its consumption and, within that, 73 percent of its electricity use and 75 percent of its natural gas use. Nationally, these figures translate to 26 percent of the U.S. for electricity and 29 percent for natural gas.

The IECA expressed its gratitude to the senator who supported its legislation and pledged to work with them in the future.