Press Releases
EPA Rules Lead to Shutdowns in Ohio
BOWLING GREEN,
June 10, 2011
Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) issued the following statement after Columbus-based American Electric Power (AEP) announced Thursday it would close and downsize three plants in Ohio at a loss of 157 jobs, to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new coal-fire plant regulations: “This is a perfect example of the EPA’s assault on American business and the economy. The cost of complying with burdensome regulations will cause higher electricity bills and fewer jobs in America. Time and time again, I, along with other members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, have said that overreaching regulations and stringent timetables for compliance are a deterrent to job growth and energy stability. “The EPA must come to terms with the fact that their overly broad one-size-fits-all regulations hurt companies. The EPA should setup a mechanism by which states can apply for regulatory waivers, giving states the flexibility to determine their business and environmental priorities.” AEP expects EPA regulations to cause a net loss of approximately 600 power plant jobs with annual wages totaling approximately $40 million. |