Economic Study Shows EPA Regulations Increase Prices, Kill Jobs

A study of two proposed EPA regulations seeking to curb power plant emissions shows that the regulations will raise electricity prices and cause a four-to-one job loss ration. The study, conducted by economic research firm National Economic Research Associates (NERA) and commissioned by the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), studied the effects of two proposed EPA regulations – the Clean Air Transport rule that would further curb sulfur and nitrogen emissions and the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standard that aims to force power plants to install new emissions-control technology. The study found that if EPA were to impose these new regulations, electricity prices would rise by a nationwide average of 12 percent by 2016 – and reduce employment by 1.4 million by 2020, killing four jobs for every one job created...more