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The EPA's Planned Rules on Coal-Based Power Plants Might End up Causing America's Electric Grid to Break
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(OPEN):
WITH LARGE PARTS OF THE NATION FEELING THE FULL EFFECTS OF WINTER, IT MAY BE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM RELIABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC-GRID.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO TERRY JARRETT--A FORMER COMMISSIONER WITH THE
"MISSOURI PUBLIC-SERVICE COMMISSION"--WHO SAYS THAT THE
E-P-A'S PLANNED RULES ON COAL-BASED PLANTS COULD CAUSE THE GRID TO
BREAK...
(JARRETT):
"BALANCING ENERGY-CAPACITY WITH A RAPIDLY EVOLVING ELECTRIC-SUPPLY IS NOT EASY.
BUT, FOR COAL--THE LARGEST-SINGLE SOURCE OF OUR NATION'S ELECTRICITY--THE ADJUSTMENT HAS BEEN MADE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BY
WASHINGTON'S REGULATORY-POLICIES. INDEED, THE OBAMA-ADMINISTRATION IS GIVING THE E-P-A THE TASK OF ENGINEERING A WHOLESALE TRANSFORMATION OF THE
NATION'S ELECTRIC-GRID. ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, E-P-A-RULES THAT TAKE EFFECT THIS YEAR COULD FORCE SEVERAL-HUNDRED COAL-BASED ELECTRICITY-PLANTS TO
CLOSE--PLANTS THAT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO POWER AND HEAT 32-MILLION HOMES.
WHAT'S MORE, PENDING RULES FOR GREENHOUSE-GASES COULD CLOSE ANOTHER 100 POWER-PLANTS.
DURING LAST YEAR'S FRIGID CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE EASTERN UNITED-STATES, COAL SUPPLIED ELECTRICITY FOR 92-PERCENT OF THE INCREASED DEMAND.
BUT, MANY OF THESE POWER-PLANTS WILL BE SHUT DOWN BY THE E-P-A'S NEW CLIMATE-RULES.
THAT, IN TURN, COULD LEAD TO POWER-OUTAGES--AND A SPIKE IN FAMILY UTILITY-BILLS."
(CLOSE):
THE E-P-A IS MANDATING THAT STATES IMPLEMENT ITS RULES.
BUT, JARRETT SAYS THAT THE NATION'S GOVERNORS SHOULD URGE THE E-P-A TO WITHDRAW WHAT HE CALLS ITS
"HARMFUL" CLIMATE-PLAN.
