EPA Rule Forces Plant Closures & Reduce Texas Electricity Facilities Supply
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. On a day in which
President Obama is touting his job creation plan his policies have forced the largest competitive power generation company in Texas Luminant to close facilities and
sacrifice approximately 500 jobs" said U.S. Congressman Bill Flores (R-TX) a former business entrepreneur Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and member of the House Budget and Natural Resources Committees.
Flores spoke earlier today after Luminants announcement of facility closures and job reductions in response to
the recent Environmental Protection Agencys Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.
In order to comply with the unrealistic deadline and damaging requirements of a recent EPA rule forcing Texas power generators to make dramatic reductions in emissions the company must reluctantly idle two generating units and end operations at three Texas mines.
It is outrageous that the EPA failed to adhere to the rulemaking process by excluding Texas in the 2010 draft rule only to add Texas at the last minute
in the final June 2011 published rule and expect compliance within six months" said Flores.
These regulations will hurt middle-class jobs and harm electric reliability in Texas with no proof that electric power generation in Texas is causing the non-attainment of pollution standards in other states.
The Obama administrations oppressive regulatory regime has put an unnecessary burden on our Nations job creators and businesses at a time when we can least afford it. Not only are this administrations disastrous policies preventing future job creation and economic growth but they are destroying existing jobs" Flores said.
Instead of proposing the same failed idea that Washington can grow jobs and restore the economy it is time we get Washington out of the way and implement common-sense Main Street solutions to put Americans back to work.
House Republicans are committed to taking every possible step to spur job creation and get our economy back on track so that we may get America back to work again and restore our Nations promise prosperity and
security for future generations" said Flores.
Throughout 2011 House Republicans have continued to focus on a common-sense private sector blueprint for job creation and economic growth. In our Plan for Americas Job Creators we are pressing for comprehensive tax reform to improve American competitiveness significant cuts in federal spending an improved regulatory environment in Washington and a comprehensive energy policy in order to restore the confidence needed for small businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in our economy."
