PacifiCorp Power’s Lake Aspect Energy Plant in Winery is photographed on July 28, 2020. Some imagine the EPA’s new air air pollution transport rule is unfair to Utah corporations and clients. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Clear vitality and clear air are common values. We wish our air to be as clear and pure as potential. And, all of us agree that producing the electrical energy all of us want as cleanly as potential is an ongoing effort. Regulating electrical energy and electrical energy technology is a job dealt with most successfully and pretty on the state, not federal, stage. But yr after yr, we discover ourselves responding to new federal necessities that ignore the wants of our clients right here in Utah in favor of the pursuit of some lofty nationwide objective.
At present, we’re being subjected to large federal overreach within the type of the federal implementation plan, or FIP, of the EPA’s Cross State Air Air pollution transport rule. Generally known as the Good Neighbor rule, this new and dear regulatory push would place large new burdens on Utah energy corporations to satisfy stringent ozone associated emissions reductions … this regardless of the truth that our ozone layer has largely recovered from the issues of 30 years in the past due to cleaner working energy crops.
Expertise has resolved these issues.
Sadly, the EPA’s new good neighbor rule fails to acknowledge this. In actual fact, regardless of all of the technological achievements that make energy technology in America the cleanest on this planet in the present day, the EPA continues to push for extra. This new push is each pointless and unfair to Utah electrical turbines and shoppers.
We’ve met the necessities imposed on us by numerous ranges of presidency, and have finished so yr after yr whereas nonetheless offering dependable and inexpensive electrical energy to our clients. Our air is clear. And our considerable and pretty priced electrical energy has helped our state economic system to develop and flourish. However, now, the EPA needs Utah to shoulder the burden for a lot of the remainder of the nation with no regard to the affect of this on our state, and our economic system.
The EPA needs Utah energy crops to cut back our nitrous oxide emissions by 12,280 tons per yr … that’s over 12% of the nationwide discount the EPA is in search of. We’re being instructed to do that even though, in the present day, Utah solely contributes between 1.4 and 1.9% of the nationwide complete. And that’s from ALL sources right here in Utah.
Can we do it?
Most likely.
However it could come at monumental value to our state, to our economic system, and to our ratepaying shoppers. To fulfill this demand would require expensive modifications to present services … modifications that aren't wanted, and will trigger the closing of some crops with a few years of helpful life left in them. This in flip would create strains on our electrical grid by lowering out there energy and, on the identical time, elevating prices to our clients.
It’s not one thing we wish, and it’s not one thing our state needs. Utah energy crops are usually not driving ozone issues. Over the past 20 years, whereas energy technology has elevated considerably, emissions from this work have declined precipitously. However it appears even our greatest efforts are by no means sufficient for the Washington bureaucrats and regulators who shouldn't have to reside with the implications of their calls for on us.
Regulating our business is, and has traditionally been, a job finished by our state Public Service Fee, Division of Public Utilities. They work exhausting to maintain our air clear, and our electrical energy each considerable and inexpensive so our state economic system can develop and our residents can prosper. That is no place for the heavy hand of federal authorities overreach.
To guard our grid, our economic system and the correct of our state to handle our personal affairs, I'm grateful to Lawyer Common Sean Reyes, Gov. Spencer Cox, and our state legislature for opposing the EPA transport rule FIP.
Stan Summers is the Field Elder County Commissioner.