Rep. Lynn Westmoreland: New EPA Regulations Threaten Manufacturing and Power Plants

Your Washington – GA 3 – Desk

New EPA Regulations Threaten Manufacturing and Power Plants

“Made in America”: it’s something our nation is proud to stamp onto our produced goods. However, with the Obama Administration and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newest regulation proposals, that tagline might become too costly for our manufacturers and plants.

In the president’s latest climate change push, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said these new set of regulations targeting air quality could “be the most expensive ever.” The proposed regulation would attempt to limit smog-creating ozone pollution to a range of 60 to 70 parts per billion after 2020 from power plants and factories: both of which are abundant in Georgia and provide invaluable jobs in a recovering economy. Our nation’s current range, set by President George W. Bush, sits at 75 parts per billion. Back in July, NAM estimated that implementing a strict version of the rule could kill off $3.4 trillion in economic output and 2.9 million jobs by 2040. A high price to pay for small change.

Such low emissions requirements mean many of our nation’s plants are out of compliance, and can force manufacturers to stop production while they search for money and ways to avoid fines. The compliance to such strict rules also drives up energy costs for all Americans. In addition to other EPA air regulations proposed, Georgians alone are looking at a 15-20% increase in electricity costs- a huge threat to households when every penny is still incredibly valuable. While President Obama seems to be seeking the approval of special interest groups over these past few months, at what cost does he draw the line to protect American jobs, energy production, and manufacturers?