The Pueblo Chieftain - Environmental Ruling Energizes Low-Price Advocates

News Article

By Dennis Darrow

Critics of President Barack Obama's environmental agenda cheered the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Monday on power plant emissions.

"It's great the Supreme Court would be looking realistically at this. . . . Maybe somewhere along the line it will bring some common sense in terms of energy," former Pueblo state Senator George Rivera said.

As a state senator, Rivera regularly voiced concerns about the higher costs of electricity resulting from the closure of coal-fired power plants and other government environmental mandates.

In blocking some of the mandates, the Supreme Court also gave voice to those Puebloans upset by sharply higher local electricity rates but unsure of how to stop them, Rivera said. "They're still frustrated but they're kind of like, "There's really nothing we can do,' " Rivera said.

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, praised the court's decision.

The ruling "strikes a blow against the Obama administration's regulatory recklessness and further proves what many of us already know, that the EPA has no regard for the impact its overreaching rules have on American families and businesses. Clean air and affordable electricity are not mutually exclusive," Tipton said in a statement.

Stuart Sanderson, president of the Colorado Mining Association, called the Supreme Court decision a major victory for those concerned about the costs of Obama's environmental agenda.

"I think the Obama EPA, anti-coal train just had a sudden derailment. . . . EPA no longer has a blank check," Sanderson said.

Sanderson said he hopes the decision leads the White House, the EPA and their supporters, including those at the local and state government levels in Colorado and elsewhere, to reconsider their war on coal.

"Coal is still the leading source of electricity generation here in Colorado, notwithstanding the damage both state laws and federal laws have done," Sanderson said.

In 2013, coal accounted for 64 percent of electricity generation in Colorado with natural gas second at 20 percent, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Colorado ranks No. 11 in the nation in coal production and the industry accounts for an estimated 6,200 direct jobs, including 2,000 at mines and 4,200 in transportation and support, and 28,000 indirect jobs.

Tri-State, the provider of power to San Isabel Electric and other rural electricity providers, said it is "pleased" with the court's decision.

"It is imperative for regulators to consider costs as they determine whether regulations are appropriate and necessary," Tri-State senior communications manager Lee Boughey said in the statement.

"As a cooperative, we are hopeful that the court-ordered review of costs will benefit our members, who ultimately pay for compliance in their electricity bills. (A review also could) provide compliance benefits and cost reductions at our generating facilities."

Xcel Energy, which relies heavily on coal power for its customer base that includes homes and businesses in Denver and steel manufacturer EVRAZ in Pueblo, said it is evaluating the ruling given that it is already spending money to comply with the EPA rules.

Xcel "was prepared for (to meet the rules), and is better prepared overall to meet a growing number of environmental requirements, thanks to ongoing efforts to cost effectively modernize our system and invest in clean energy," Xcel vice president Frank Prager said.

Black Hills Energy executives were unavailable for immediate comment Monday afternoon but expect to issue comments later this week, a representative said.

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