Regressive approach: New EPA rules would punish New York for work already done
On Monday, President Barack Obama ordered the implementation of even more egregious regulations over electric-power generation in an effort to slow the effects of an ever-warming climate.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initially had proposed rules that would have reduced carbon emissions by 30 percent. The rules promulgated Monday made the reduction more aggressive — 32 percent.
These new rules could hit New York City and the rest of the state especially hard and may even reduce the reliability of our electric power supply. Look at these highlights about New York’s performance over the last decade as one of the few states with a deregulated power generation/distribution system:
■ Since the turn of the century, New York has increased its fuel efficiency by 27 percent — a reduction in fuel consumption over three times more than the entire country has achieved.
■ New York has reduced its cost of fuel by $6.4 billion.
■ Implementing a market-based power sourcing and distribution management system since 2000 has reduced the need for electric power generation reserves, avoiding costs of $540 million.
■ New York has cut carbon emissions 25 million pounds between 1999 and 2013.
