Press Releases
Congressman Latta Introduces Legislation To Avoid Costs Increases on Rural Co-Ops and Municipal Utilities
Washington, D.C. ,
October 13, 2011
Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) today introduced legislation, H.R. 3185, to exempt existing stationary engines from two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), called the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE). Unless these EPA rules are stopped, by 2013 electric cooperatives and municipal utilities will be required to update existing engines used to generate electricity with costly emission control technology. U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) introduced companion legislation today in the Senate, S. 1702. “Rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities should not fall victim to an overly broad and poorly thought out EPA regulation,” Rep. Bob Latta said. “The EPA’s Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines rule will raise energy prices on 42 million rural electric cooperative consumers, as well as municipal utilities nationwide. Exempting back-up diesel engines during brief periods of high demand is critical in avoiding higher costs in already tough economic times.” Municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives use stationary diesel and natural gas engines to generate electricity during periods of high demand or during emergency situations — typically operating no more than 100 hours in a given year. |