[Hoot Gibson]

Don't say that those of us who voted against Obama in 2008 did not warn you that this might happen. A new study estimates that this country will lose 10 percent of its electrical power production as a result of Obama EPA regulation changes. This number includes 7 power plants in Kentucky along, including the Big Sandy plant in Louisa.

Let me emphasize that the list of likely closures is only an estimate but this is the kind of impact that an Obama second term could have in the four years during which he would not be constrained by the pressure of another campaign.

I will also note up front that this study was prepared by a pro-energy group. I would not expect such a report advocating an intelligent energy policy to originate from the Obama administration, Media Matters, or other anti-capitalist organizations.

[INDENT]

Institute for Energy Research Identifies Coal Fired Power Plants Likely to Close as Result of EPA Regulations

The United States has the world’s largest coal resources. In fact we have 50 percent more coal than Russia, the country with the next largest reserves. But coal use in the United States is under assault.

Before becoming President, Barack Obama promised to bankrupt coal companies. As President, he has tried various strategies to force Americans to use less coal. After failing to pass a national energy tax (cap-and-trade), the President vowed to continue his attack on coal stating, there is “more than one way to skin a cat.”

Currently, EPA is leading the Obama administration’s assault on coal with a number of new regulations. Two of the most important are the “transport rule” and the “toxics rule” (Utility MACT). Combined, these regulations will systematically reduce access to affordable and reliable energy. According to our report:

• EPA Regulations Will Close At Least 28 GW of Generating Capacity
  
  EPA modeling and power-plant operator announcements show that EPA regulations will close at least 28 gigawatts (GW) of American generating capacity, the equivalent of closing every power plant in the state of North Carolina or Indiana. Also, 28 GW is 8.9 percent of our total coal generating capacity.
  

• Current Retirements Almost Twice As High As EPA Predicted
  
  EPA’s power plant-level modeling projected that Agency regulations would close 14.5 GW of generating capacity. That number rises to 28 GW when including additional announced retirements related to EPA rules, almost twice the amount EPA projected. Moreover, this number will grow as plant operators continue to release their EPA compliance plans.
  

[Image: http://www.instituteforenergyresearch.or...00x219.png]

[/INDENT]