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EPA Proposals Threaten Arkansas (Jason Rapert Commentary)

3 min read

Arkansas is fortunate to have among the lowest electricity prices in the nation. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency’s newest proposed carbon rule poses a grave threat to our ability to produce electricity affordably and reliably, and that spells bad news for homeowners and business owners across the state.

In an overzealous attempt to combat climate change, the EPA’s proposal places an effective ban on coal-based power. Blinded by its own ambition, the agency is willing to neglect the needs of states like Arkansas in order to achieve its goals. For Arkansas, the implications of the proposal are far more negative than the EPA is willing to admit or to address.

More than 50 percent of Arkansas’ cheap electricity is generated by coal. For our businesses, affordable electricity is crucial and allows owners to pay for the power, progress and payrolls needed for success. As our economy continues to come back from the devastating impacts of a few years ago, we should target and support objectives that aid this needed growth, not hinder it as the EPA proposes.

The need for low-cost electricity is just as critical for Arkansas households that struggle with the threat of skyrocketing monthly energy bills. When costs go up, families must struggle even harder to balance basic necessities like heat for winter, food and shelter. On top of that, goals like savings for higher education go out the window to pay for burdensome bills, effectively eliminating the opportunity for many Arkansas youth to advance.

Sadly, the interests and needs of our state have taken a back seat to the administration’s political agenda. The Obama administration and the EPA need to quit meddling with Arkansas and quit trying to stifle the use of American energy resources, actions that increase electricity costs to the detriment of consumers all over Arkansas.

Currently, the EPA’s proposal requires Arkansas to reduce carbon emissions 45 percent by 2030. That’s a steep climb and will put our state’s and people’s economic future on a worrisome path. Making matters worse, the EPA provided only 120 days to analyze more than 1,600 pages of complex and detailed data to come up with our own energy plan that abides by these unattainable regulations. But even the EPA’s recent 45-day comment period extension doesn’t change the fact that this proposal offers no conceivable upside; it is completely and totally flawed.

Entities like environmental groups and the EPA itself are claiming these expectations and deadlines are fair and offer enough flexibility and time to states like Arkansas to comply. Don’t let yourself be fooled, however. These groups are coming to our communities and telling us what’s best for our families and economies and removing access to state-based resources that protect our interests. They are recklessly gambling with our livelihoods and attempting to force us to play by questionable rules, all to appease an administration bent on passing a self-serving climate plan before it leaves office.

Rather than force our state into unnecessary economic hardship, the EPA should encourage us to be as efficient as possible with power sources readily at our disposal. The hardworking citizens of this state do not deserve to be further burdened by economic hardship, making it imperative that the EPA withdraw its misguided regulation on existing power plants. Matters pertaining to our state’s electrical infrastructure and economy need to be regulated by the Arkansans who know them best, not by a bureaucratic agency that expresses little concern for the difficulties it creates. Arkansans near and far must join together and fight to protect our energy stability and economic vitality.

State Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Conway, chairs the Senate Insurance & Commerce Committee. He can be reached at Jason.Rapert@Senate.Ar.gov.

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