State legislators in Virginia are moving legislation to protect energy consumers from the higher utility bills that would result from the EPA’s new draconian regulations. As reported by the Virginia Bureau of Watchdog.org:
The specter of increased electricity costs and loss of state sovereignty is fueling a battle over energy policy at the Virginia General Assembly.
State Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, is taking on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Clean Power Plan” with bills that would:
- Require the State Corporation Commission to approve the closure of any power plan while protecting customers from higher rates stemming from the EPA rules.
- Authorize the General Assembly to sue the EPA, using funds from the state Attorney General’s office.
Wagner’s SB 1349 passed the Senate on Friday with the support of the state’s largest utility, Dominion Power, as well as the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the state NAACP and a majority of Democrats.
“This measure would reduce the rates for residential customers by about 5 percent,” camber President Barry DuVal said. “Industrial customers could see prices fall about 10 percent.”
….
“Some states – such as Virginia and North Carolina – are treated unfairly in the (EPA) proposal because of the ‘greater and unreasonable’ reductions required in carbon dioxide emissions rates relative to other nearby states.” the utility said.
Civitas recently published a report by the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University showing the devastating economic consequences the new EPA rules would have if imposed on North Carolina: Tens of thousands of lost jobs and significantly higher energy bills for residential ratepayers and industrial users alike.
Hopefully NC legislators will follow our northern neighbor’s lead and fight back against the EPA’s overreach.
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