The Energy Institute serves as co-chair of the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, a coalition of over 170 members. The Partnership for a Better Energy Future is leading the business and industrial community in support of a unified strategy and message in response to the Administration’s greenhouse gas (GHG) regulatory agenda. This agenda is just underway and will ultimately extend to nearly every sector of the industrial economy, from refining to manufacturing to agriculture and mining. To this end, the Partnership’s fundamental mission is to ensure the continued availability of reliable and affordable energy for American families and businesses.

For more information on the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, visit www.betterenergyfuture.org

EPA Regulations

When implemented properly regulations can benefit consumers and industry.  However, the Institute for 21st Century Energy is quite concerned about the impact that the Environment Protection Administration’s cascade of regulations will have on our economy and energy supply.

While we understand the desire for a cleaner energy future, it cannot come at the expense of our economy.  We must also make sure that U.S. regulations are viewed in the context of what is a global issue.  For years, American industry has been making improvements to reduce emission and make the air cleaner.  Aggressive new regulations, however, will have minimal benefit to the environment because of strong growth in developing countries.

Read More:  Energy Works for US: Reforming the Regulatory Process for Balance, Predictability and Transparency

EPA Regulations on New and Existing Power Plants

EPA has proposed new regulations to curb carbon emissions from both new and existing power plants.  Known as the “Clean Power Plan,” these regulations will have the effect of dramatically reducing the use of coal.

Many issues of concern have been raised about the Clean Power Plan, most notably by the states that must implement it.  The Energy Institute has conducted a comprehensive analysis of state comments regarding EPA’s proposed regulations on new power plants.   Our guide summarizes the 12 most common and significant concerns expressed from states, demonstrating the breadth and severity of concerns.  The concerns are summarized in the first section of the report, followed by representative comments from states on each area.

Also available is an Excel worksheet of notable comments filed by states and stakeholders.  Comments filed by official state entities are shaded in yellow, while comments filed by members of the Partnership for a Better Energy Future—a coalition of nearly 200 groups co-chared by the Chamber—are shaded in beige.

Read the full report.

The Energy Institute helped form a broad coalition in response to the plan.  The Partnership for a Better Energy Future is made up of over 170 members from across the economy, and is co-chaired by the Energy Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers.  To learn more about this effort and our concerns with EPA’s carbon regulations, visit www.betterenergyfuture.org

Ozone Regulations

The Energy Institute is also concerned about EPA’s proposed ozone regulations, which studies have found could be the most expensive regulation every implemented. EPA’s new regulations will dramatically increase “nonattainment areas” throughout the country. The rules will immediately add red tape to economic development that is vital to growing new jobs. Nonattainment areas face even more severe requirements that significantly curtail business development. Companies building or expanding facilities in nonattainment areas are required to reduce ozone-forming emissions regardless of cost, and economic development cannot move forward unless such emissions are reduced from other sources.

These impacts are illustrated in the Energy Institute’s ozone infographic, available as a PDF here and shown below:

To learn more about the U.S. Chamber’s concerns with EPA ozone regulations, visit our Environment, Technology, and Regulatory Affairs’ issue page at www.uschamber.com/ozone.