If you think power bills are high now, a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia refused to block could make things much worse and could force some power plants to shut down.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 23 other states in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to issue an emergency stay on the rule.
The rule regulates coal- and natural gas-powered power plants under the Clean Air Act and forces them to use technology to significantly reduce emissions. Opponents say it could cost jobs and more.
“Electricity prices are already high, but the Biden-Harris Administration doesn’t care,” said Marshall. “Their unelected bureaucrats will regulate traditional sources of electricity out of existence. As the last line of defense, we will not allow radical agencies like the EPA to wield illegal authority over states that will have devastating economic consequences on our great state.”
Only 16% of power plants in the United States are fueled by coal. However, coal-powered plants are the primary source of power in Alabama.
Supporters of the rule say recent issues concerning coal ash pollution have highlighted the need for more regulations.
In Alabama, three companies, Alabama Power, TVA and PowerSouth, have created millions of tons of coal ash. Some coal ash ponds were found to contain dangerous levels of arsenic, boron, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury and radium seeping into local waterways.
Alabama Power worked for months to find a solution. The company agreed to have coal ash removed and recycled from the Barry Steam Plant in Mobile.
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