Oil and gas bodies respond to Clean Power Plan

American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers

AFPM President Chet Thompson has said the following on the EPA’s final Clean Power Plan rule: “AFPM is reviewing the rule and has not yet determined what, if any, future actions it will take. We are concerned, however, that the rule exceeds EPA’s statutory authority, commandeers states primacy in making energy decisions, provides inadequate time for compliance, and fails to consider the current energy infrastructure, which ultimately will lead to higher electricity costs for consumers. The rule’s so called beyond the source approach creates a worrisome precedent for the future of regulation under the Clean Air Act.”

America’s Natural Gas Alliance

Below is a statement made by Marty Durbin, President and CEO, ANGA, on the release by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the 111(d) rule covering carbon emissions from existing power plants.

“While we will need to review the final Clean Power Plan rule in its entirety when it is released, initial reports indicate that the White House is ignoring market realities and discounting the ability of natural gas to achieve the objective of emissions reductions more quickly and reliably while powering growth and helping consumers.

“We are confident about the role that natural gas can and will play in America’s clean power future. With the reported shift in the plan, we believe the White House is perpetuating the false choice between renewables and natural gas. We don’t have to slow the trend toward gas in order to effectively and economically use renewables.

“States’ ability to incorporate more wind and solar energy into their power mix is dependent on natural gas combined cycle turbines that will quickly and cost effectively pick up the slack when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow.

“Natural gas is the most cost effective compliance option that states have in almost all cases as they contemplate where their future electricity will come from and how, specifically, they will balance the dual mandates of cleaner air and healthy economic growth.

“An accelerating move to natural gas is critical to keeping the lights on, heating and cooling our homes and fuelling growth in domestic manufacturing, all while reducing air emissions. We stand ready to work with states, customers, consumers and the energy and environmental community to ensure that this transition moves forward efficiently and cost effectively.”

American Petroleum Institute

The API has said that the EPA’s final power plant rule imposes unnecessary costs on states and US consumers, particularly poorer communities, while overlooking the proven, market driven potential of natural gas to help reduce emissions. The API has announced that it opposes the rule because it oversteps the authority given to the EPA under the Clean Air Act.

Howard J. Feldman, API Senior Director of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs has said the following, “America is leading the world in reducing emissions thanks to a revolution in the production and use of natural gas. We can continue that progress without costly new regulations that could hurt consumers and stifle economic growth. Meeting climate challenges must go hand in hand with ensuring that Americans have the affordable and reliable energy necessary to grow our economy and create jobs. Instead, the EPA rule could impose the greatest costs on those who can least afford it, Americans looking for jobs and families that don’t have the means to pay higher monthly bills to heat and cool their homes.

“Over the last few years, consumer driven investments in natural gas have lowered energy bills for hard pressed families while helping cut emissions to near 20 year lows. By picking winners and losers in the energy mix, EPA’s rules could force consumers to pay for more money for far fewer environmental benefits. America’s oil and natural gas industry invests more in zero and low emissions technologies than the federal government and nearly as much as all other industries combined. With or without new regulations, natural gas will continue to grow as a critical source of clean energy, but the EPA’s rule does more harm than good.”

Edited from various sources by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/clean-fuels/04082015/clean-power-plan-responses/