Proposed Power Plant Emission Rules Spark Debate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is calling for public comments about potential new carbon emission standards for power plants. Supporters say the standards will help deal with health and environmental concerns. Opponents say they over reach and will have a devastating impact on the coal industry, which is responsible for producing the majority of Indiana's electricity. The EPA is not planning a public meeting about the issue in Indiana, but has scheduled a session for early next month in Chicago.

The Chicago session is set for November 8.

The head of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has entered the debate. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report Thomas Easterly believes the new rules could virtually ban coal-fired plants.

He told a legislative committee this week that the state would fall short of the standards even if there was a complete switch to natural gas.The Indiana Coal Council is accepting electronic comments on the issue that it plans to deliver to the EPA during the Chicago session.

More details are available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EPAcomment.Information about the EPA's Public Listening Sessions are available at http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards/public-listening-sessions#Chicago.Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Indiana Coal Council