Ohio Is Expected To Lose Over 53,000 Jobs Due To The EPA’s Job-Killing Regulations

As the unelected bureaucrats who work in President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to create their job-killing regulations, earlier today it was reported that these burdensome rules will likely force at least one Ohio power plant to shut down – and likely several more in the months ahead – and put an untold number of Ohioans out of work.

This is devastating news for families in Ohio and it’s worth noting that liberal U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown had an opportunity to rein in these job-killing regulations, but decided to vote against an amendment that would have stopped the EPA from implementing their job-killing regulations.

As the Dayton Daily News reports:

“Facing the prospect of having to shut down a coal-burning power plant that employs 50, Dayton Power & Light said it’s studying a plan to repower the O.H. Hutchings Station plant here with natural gas as a way to keep the facility along the Great Miami River operating.  New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations to reduce mercury and other heavy metals in smokestack emissions would shut the plant down within a few years.” (Steve Bennish, EPA rules to force old coal plants to adapt, close, Dayton Daily News, 01/06/12)

Notably, the Associated Press recently reported that 68 coal power plants – which includes 10 plants in Ohio – are endanger of shutting down, due to the EPA’s job-killing regulations.  This comes on the heels of a report from the National Economic Research Associates that found the EPA’s burdensome regulations could kill over 53,000 jobs in Ohio and increase electricity rates by 13 percent.

“When given the opportunity to stop the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA from implementing their job-killing regulations – which could close power plants in Ohio – Sherrod Brown chose to do nothing,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “It’s clear that once again Sherrod Brown would rather rubberstamp Barack Obama’s job-killing agenda into law, instead of standing up for the people of Ohio.”  
BACKGROUND

Despite Acknowledging That EPA Regulations Could Be “Burdensome,” Brown Voted Against Blocking The Agency From Regulating Carbon

Brown Voted Against An Amendment Which Would Have Blocked The EPA From Regulating Carbon Dioxide And Other Greenhouse Gasses. “McConnell, R-Ky., amendment no. 183 that would block the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.” (S. 493, CQ Vote #54: Rejected 50-50: R 46-1; D 4-47; I 0-2, 4/6/11, Brown Voted Nay)

Brown Told The Obama Administration That EPA Regulations Could Be “Burdensome” And Could Harm Economic Growth. “A key Midwestern Senate Democrat on Monday called on the Obama administration to reconsider its approach to greenhouse gas regulation, as EPA critics weigh their legislative options for blocking the new rules. Ohio’s Sherrod Brown called the new permitting requirements for large emitters ‘burdensome’ and said they could harm economic growth, echoing the concerns of industry and GOP lawmakers.” (Geof Koss, “Ohio’s Brown Is Latest Senate Democrat To Criticize EPA Greenhouse Gas Rules,” Congressional Quarterly, 2/28/11)

And Now The EPA’s Regulation Could Kill 53,000 Ohio Jobs

National Economic Research Associates, a firm that evaluates economic impacts for government agencies, associations and businesses, in a preliminary analysis for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity projects that Utility MACT and CSAPR will result in 1.4 million lost jobs nationally over the next nine years, including 53,500 jobs in Ohio. And that’s net job losses, because the research takes into account jobs created by the two new rules as well those that will be lost.  Additionally, according to NERA, utilities’ compliance costs for the two regulations would total $17 billion annually and electricity costs in Ohio would increase by about 13 percent. (Kevin Schmidt, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Columbus Dispatch, 10/20/11)

Including 50 Jobs Near Miamisburg, Ohio

New EPA Rules Threaten 50 Ohio Jobs At Dayton Power & Light Plant. “Facing the prospect of having to shut down a coal-burning power plant that employs 50, Dayton Power & Light said it’s studying a plan to repower the O.H. Hutchings Station plant here with natural gas as a way to keep the facility along the Great Miami River operating.” (Steve Bennish, “EPA Rules To Force Old Coal Plants To Adapt, Close,” Dayton Daily News, 1/6/12)

• Dayton Power & Light Plant Is The Latest Among Ohio Coal Plants To Be Threatened By The Obama Administration. “Large Ohio coal plants will go dark within a few years. Duke Energy announced that the Walter C. Beckjord Generating Station in Clermont County east of Cincinnati will cease operating coal-fired units in 2015. … Other Ohio utilities have announced coal-burning power plants headed for closure, including American Electric Power in Columbus. AEP said it would close two West Virginia plants and one Ohio plant, Picway. Two other Ohio plants, Conesville and Muskingum River, would close generating units.” (Steve Bennish, “EPA Rules To Force Old Coal Plants To Adapt, Close,” Dayton Daily News, 1/6/12)
• The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Is Most Expensive Regulation Ever Imposed By The EPA On Coal-Fueled Power Plants.  “The EPA today announced its final ‘Cross-State Air Pollution Rule,’ despite an analysis showing that the regulation, in combination with other EPA rules, would be among the most expensive ever imposed by the agency on coal-fueled power plants, dramatically increasing electricity rates for American families and businesses, causing substantial job losses.”  (Press Release, “EPA Finalizes Expensive New Regulation,” American Coalition For Clean Coal Electricity, 7/7/11)

• Dayton Daily News: “With An Estimated $9.6 Billion Price Tag, The Rules Rank Among The Most Expensive In The EPA’s History.” (Steve Bennish, “EPA Rules To Force Old Coal Plants To Adapt, Close,” Dayton Daily News, 1/6/12)