• Home
  • Archives
  • Contact Us
    • About
  • Reporters
  • Affiliates
  • Affiliate Support
  • Sports

Nebraska Radio Network

Nebraska News and Sports

  • Legislature & Government
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Agriculture
  • Husker Sports
  • All Topics
  • PostsComments
You are here: Home / Featured Stories / Senators to EPA: hold hearing where coal is actually used (AUDIO)

Senators to EPA: hold hearing where coal is actually used (AUDIO)

November 12, 2013 By Brent Martin

Nebraska’s United States Senators have written the Environmental Protection Agency, asking the agency to hold a listening session in Nebraska on how proposed carbon regulations would impact electricity costs.

“The EPA just doesn’t stop ceasing to amaze me,” Sen. Mike Johanns replies when asked about his latest battle with the EPA.

Johanns has been joined Sen. Deb Fischer in writing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

“On October 31st, we signed a letter asking the EPA to broaden the scope of its carbon listening tour to include regions of the United States that use and produce coal, the principal targets of EPA’s regulatory efforts regarding greenhouse gas emissions of existing plants. We write separately today to ask specifically that the agency appear in Nebraska and seek the input of our state’s residents,” the senators wrote in their letter to McCarthy.

The EPA has scheduled hearings in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, and Atlanta as well as in Lenaxa, Dallas, Chicago, and Denver.

Johanns points out no listening session is being held in the Midwest, the region of the country that relies most heavily on coal.

“They are holding these hearings in some of the most pro-EPA states in the United States,” Johanns states.

Johanns doesn’t believe the lack of hearings in the Midwest is an oversight. He believes it is intentional, part of the EPA’s war on coal. He says the Obama Administration is blind to the economic consequences its anti-coal agenda would have on Nebraska and other Midwestern states. Johanns adds the administration refuses to consider clean-coal technology.

Nebraska relies on coal to produce 70% of its electricity.

Johanns says if the EPA adopts the proposed carbon emission rules and refuses to consider clean-coal technology, Nebraska will suffer.

“You’re just going to get higher rates. It is just guaranteed. That’s going to be the result and that’s exactly where they are headed. And it’s very, very difficult. You can’t retrofit a power plant overnight.”

Johanns says that while he would like the EPA to hold a hearing in Nebraska, he would settle for a hearing in the Midwest.

 

A copy of the letter is below:

 

November 6, 2013

The Honorable Gina McCarthy

Administrator

Environmental Protection Agency

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy:

On October 31st, we signed a letter asking the EPA to broaden the scope of its carbon listening tour to include regions of the United States that use and produce coal, the principal targets of EPA’s regulatory efforts regarding greenhouse gas emissions of existing plants. We write separately today to ask specifically that the agency appear in Nebraska and seek the input of our state’s residents.

Our request is made in part because we believe that EPA’s current schedule is inappropriately dominated by large cities in coastal states. While we certainly respect the views of residents of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Seattle, San Francisco, and Atlanta, few would argue that views of those likely to attend reflect comprehensively the views of Nebraskans. The four remaining locations in Lenaxa, Dallas, Chicago, and Denver, while closer, are by no means rural, nor likely to capture our State’s values and perspective.

Nebraska generates almost 70 percent of its electricity from coal and is an important transportation hub for coal shipments throughout the country. In addition, because we are 100 percent public power, all rate increases, capital improvements, and electricity imports are financed by ratepayers alone.

We therefore urge you to consider scheduling additional meetings within our state, and specifically request that you include the selection of a rural location to gather local input in areas far from metropolitan centers.

Sincerely,

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer

AUDIO:  Brent Martin reports [:45]

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google

Filed Under: Featured Stories, Legislature & Government, News Tagged With: Senator Deb Fischer, Senator Mike Johanns

Ricketts, Erstad team up for “Live Well” initiative

Husker Spring Game tickets to go on sale February 6th

Husker women on the verge of a win streak

Huskers land walk-on commitment from Kearney QB

Huskers fall at Rutgers 76 to 69

More Big Red News

Featured Stories

Senator warns medical marijuana opponents: petition drive waits in the wings (AUDIO)

Attorney General cautions Nebraska against legalizing medical marijuana (AUDIO)

Legislative leaders see a lot to like in Gov. Ricketts’ proposals (AUDIO)

Gov. Ricketts reveals two-year spending plan, calls for property tax relief in State of the State address (AUDIO)

Turnover rate at Nebraska prisons drops (AUDIO)

TwitterFacebook

Husker Sports

Copeland suffers season-ending injury Saturday, ending his college career

Huskers Drop Third Straight, Falling to the Buckeyes 70-60

Ricketts, Erstad team up for “Live Well” initiative

Husker Spring Game tickets to go on sale February 6th

Husker women on the verge of a win streak

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2019 · Learfield News & Ag. LLC