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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 180
BY SENATOR WARD
FEDERAL PROGRAMS. Requests the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rely on
state regulators when developing guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from
fossil-fueled power plants.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rely on state regulators2
when developing guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-3
fueled power plants.4
WHEREAS, a reliable and affordable energy supply is vital to Louisiana's economic5
growth, jobs, and the overall interest of its citizens; and6
WHEREAS, Louisiana supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy, because it is in7
the best interest of Louisiana and the nation; and8
WHEREAS, the United States has abundant supplies of coal that provide economic9
and energy security benefits; and10
WHEREAS, coal provides affordable and reliable electricity to the citizens of11
Louisiana; and12
WHEREAS, carbon regulations for existing coal-fueled power plants could threaten13
the affordability and reliability of Louisiana's electricity supplies and risk substantial job14
losses through the premature closure of power plants that have just invested in pollution15
controls to meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent mercury16
regulations; and17
WHEREAS, carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fueled power plants represent only18 SR NO. 180
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three percent of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions; and1
WHEREAS, the United States Energy Information Administration projects the2
electric sector carbon dioxide emissions in the United States will be fourteen percent below3
2005 levels in 2020, and that carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fueled power plants in the4
United States will be nineteen percent below 2005 levels in 2020; and5
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2013, the president directed the administrator of the EPA6
to issue standards, regulations, or guidelines to address carbon dioxide emissions from new,7
existing, modified, and reconstructed fossil-fueled power plants; and8
WHEREAS, the president expressly recognized that states "will play a central role9
in establishing and implementing carbon standards for existing power plants"; and10
WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to establish a procedure under11
which each state shall develop a plan for establishing and implementing standards of12
performance for existing sources within the state; and13
WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act expressly allows states, in developing and applying14
such standards of performance, "to take into consideration, among other factors, the15
remaining useful life of the existing source to which such standard applies"; and16
WHEREAS, the EPA's existing regulations provide that states may adopt "less17
stringent emissions standards or longer compliance schedules" than the EPA's guidelines18
based on factors such as "unreasonable cost of control", "physical impossibility of installing19
necessary control equipment", or other factors that make less stringent standards or longer20
compliance times "significantly more reasonable"; and21
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of electricity consumers in Louisiana to continue22
to benefit from reliable, affordable electricity provided by coal-based generating plants.23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana24
does hereby request the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in developing25
guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, to respect the26
primacy of Louisiana and to rely on state regulators to develop performance standards for27
carbon dioxide emissions that take into account the unique policies, energy needs, resource28
mix, and economic priorities of Louisiana.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the EPA should issue guidelines and approve30 SR NO. 180
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state-established performance standards that are based on reductions of carbon dioxide1
emissions achievable by measures undertaken at fossil-fueled power plants.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the EPA should allow Louisiana to set less3
stringent performance standards or longer compliance schedules for power plants within4
their jurisdiction.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Louisiana should be given maximum flexibility6
by the EPA to implement carbon dioxide performance standards for fossil-fueled power7
plants within their jurisdiction.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the9
administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by McHenry Lee.
DIGEST
Ward SR No. 180
Requests the U.S. EPA to rely on state regulators when developing guidelines for regulating
carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fueled power plants.