The White House wants to impose job-killing power plant regulations through what it’s calling a Clean Power Plan. President Obama’s not-so-secret aim is to turn loose the EPA to shut down coal-fired power plants all over America. I’m all for responsible regulation – but this energy policy is reckless. We need regulations that seek input from stakeholders and are cost-effective, reasonable and technologically achievable.
This is another example of federal government overreach by President Obama who has warned us that he won’t hesitate to use his executive powers to get his way. Now, he’s planning to advance a radical agenda that he couldn’t get through Congress.
For Tennessee, we draw much of our electrical power from coal power generation. If the EPA and President Obama have their way, we’ll see substantial hikes in the price of electricity – these rate increases will hit the poor and working families particularly hard.
According to a recent study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the new EPA mandates would lower our standard of living by reducing, on average, household incomes by $3,400 – through increased cost of energy and the subsequent effects on other goods and services.
A recent poll by Paragon Insights shows that a majority of Tennessee voters believe the United States can’t afford new costs and potential job losses as a result of an overreaching EPA. This November, we have a choice at the ballot box. Send Washington and President Obama the message that Tennesseans oppose their federal government overreach.
Paul Chapman