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AFP Reacts to Clean Power Plan Hearing

"Proposals will increase Minnesota power and heating bills by $475 a year,” says state director Flohrs

SAINT PAUL, Minn. –Americans for Prosperity, Minnesota’s leading grassroots advocate for fighting burdensome regulations, today issued the following statement in regards to the Minnesota House Job Growth and Energy Affordability Policy and Finance Committee’s hearing on the Clean Power Plan — a federal initiative that regulates carbon emissions from power plants – the first of which will take place today in Becker, MN.

State Director Jason Flohrs had the following to say:

“Minnesota families just can’t afford these extremely costly new regulations,” said Jason Flohrs, state director of Americans for Prosperity Minnesota. “At the end of the day, these new regulations will mean one thing for Minnesota families: higher heating, gas and electric bills. If these regulations go through, average household heating, gas and electric bills will increase by more than 28 percent — an average of $475 per family. Even President Obama acknowledges will result in higher prices for consumers and it just isn’t fair."

“Our state leaders should stand up for energy affordability and reliability by rejecting efforts to implement them. Minnesota can and should join other states that are refusing compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s power grab. Unfortunately Governor Dayton is doing the opposite.”

BACKGROUND:

The Clean Power Plan is the Administration’s proposal to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants, which will add costs to both the electric and heating bills for all customers in the United States.

Studies on the initial proposals estimate that it would increase the average Minnesota power bill by $200 and the average Minnesota heating bill by $275 -- a 28% increase.

Research also suggests that Minnesota would lose as many as 4,800 jobs from power plant closures should the new regulations be put into place.

The Clean Power Plan establishes state-by-state targets for carbon dioxide emissions reductions. The final version of the rule would mandate emissions be reduced by an astounding 32 percent on average below 2005 levels by 2030.

The plan provides options to states for cutting carbon emissions and determines a mandated target for reductions on a state-by-state basis. Options for cutting emissions include renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, using more natural gas and nuclear power, or shuttering coal-fired power plants.

States must submit a final plan or request for an extension by September 6, 2016. As many as 17 states have filed suit against the EPA over these rules, and the list continues to grow.

For further information or an interview, please contact Jason Flohrs at JFlohrs@AFPhq.org or (612) 247-0805.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. For more information, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org

 

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