KSFY - Obama's Clean Power Plan to have negative impacts on South Dakota

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This week, the Obama Administration unveiled a major climate change plan aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants. The President calls it the biggest and most important step the United States has ever taken to combat climate change but, so far, it's not sitting well with South Dakotans.

"South Dakotans will be hurt much more by this policy than people in many other places in the country. That's the part I have a problem with," Congresswoman Kristi Noem said.

Congresswoman Kristi Noem is one of many who are not happy about the proposed plan.

"We consume more energy than a lot of other places. It takes more energy for us to live our daily lives because we're so isolated. It costs us farther to drive places, to heat our homes in the winter," Noem said.

Southeastern Electric Cooperative, serving the most rural communities, might have to reconsider their member rates.

"We're really trying to get a grasp on the total costs are right now. In some instances, we've heard some costs that can push 20-30% additional cost onto our members up there. We don't believe it's fair for our members who have some of the cleanest power plants in the world. We've invested heavily in renewable energies to provide our members with quality power up there," Southeastern Electric Cooperative GM Brad Schardin said.

Not only quality, but GM Brad Schardin's other priority is keeping rates affordable.

"It'll impact everyone from the top end of the income scale to the bottom. The biggest people will be the middle to low income people as far as impact to their electric rates," Schardin said.

"I'm very disappointed in the administration's pushing of these regulations that will be so hard on families already strapped trying to make their budgets work. there has to be some common sense that comes into places that doesn't place the environment above people. There has to be a balance across the country so it's not hitting a certain demographic harder than others," Noem said.

With the Clean Power Plan, the President's three main objectives include mitigating dangerous climate change, protecting the public's health and providing international leadership. Opponents across the country plan to file a lawsuit to stop the rule's implementation.

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