Your Electic Bill Utility MACT

Senator Johanns e-Update June 20, 2012 Today, the Senate voted on a resolution I cosponsored that would have overturned one of the most costly regulations ever adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The regulation is known as the Utility MACT Rule and demands major changes at power plants by establishing stringent standards regulating emissions. I believe clean air is important, but the EPA – as with many of their regulations – is ignoring the significant costs, both in electric bills and potentially jobs, this rule would have. As the only state in the country with 100 percent public power, Nebraska rate-payers foot the bill for the costs of generating and delivering power. Smaller towns and rural areas operating their own generating facilities would be hit the hardest. Fremont, Nebraska has indicated the Utility MACT rule and two other EPA rules will cost customers about $35 million over the next three years. In addition, Hastings, Nebraska has indicated decreased generation will hike operation costs by at least $3.8 million per year. Including costs of retrofits for this rule and two others in the works, the total cost over 5 years is between $40 and $50 million for Hastings. This does not include expected additional EPA fines. We all want clean air, but we must set reasonable goals and ensure these rules will not cripple our economy. This rule will cost our citizens billions of dollars at a time when many families and job creators are struggling to make ends meet. I spoke on the Senate floor last night about the need to do away with the burdensome Utility MACT Rule. You can listen to my full remarks HERE. Unfortunately, the resolution blocking this ill-advised regulation and asking the EPA to find a more reasonable solution, failed to pass in the Senate. Rest assured, I will continue to fight the EPA’s overreaching actions.