Environmental Group Backing EPA Plan

The executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council says potential federal regulations aimed at slashing carbon pollution from power plants will allow Indiana to become a “major market” for alternative energy innovation. Jesse Kharbanda believes the Environmental Protection Agency plan would increase energy efficiency and reduce electric bills.

“Confronting climate change is a challenging, multi-decade process. The US EPA's proposed new policy on greenhouse gas emissions provides states more than a decade and a half of time to achieve a realistic reduction in greenhouse gases from power plants, the principal source of climate change. This will not only allow Indiana companies to cost-effectively comply with this policy, but will allow Indiana to become a major market for innovation in low-carbon technologies.

We're troubled that the Governor, rather than embracing the opportunity to accelerate positive change in Indiana's electricity market, has resorted to fear mongering that is unbecoming of a governor through hyperbolic statements like the U.S. EPA's policy is occurring “without regard for the impact on the U.S. economy or American workers,” and “will dramatically raise electricity rates.” This is untrue.

The policy will allow maximum compliance options; it will allow Indiana to significantly reduce its energy consumption through a significant expansion in energy efficiency — which will lower, not increase electricity bills. The irony is that if the Governor were so passionate about reducing energy bills facing Hoosiers, he would not have become the first leader in the U.S. to disband a statewide energy efficiency program, as he did earlier this year. Our hand remains extended to the Governor and other key leaders to find innovative ways for Indiana, one of the country's largest carbon emitters, to confront the significant global challenge of climate change. Political grandstanding, which is what some of Indiana's key political leaders are doing, is not a constructive way to deal with a problem that will affect generations of Americans to come.”

Source: Hoosier Environmental Countil