ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 29
BY REPRESENTATIVES HARRISON, STUART BISHOP, BROWN, BURFORD,
CARMODY, COX, GAROFALO, HAVARD, MIGUEZ, NORTON, PYLANT,
RICHARD, STOKES, TALBOT, AND WHITNEY
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the United States Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the
proposed guidelines for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired
power plants pursuant to Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act and that in the
event the United States Environmental Protection Agency adopts the proposed
guidelines, urge and request the governor and the attorney general to use every
means at their disposal, including taking legal action, to prevent the guidelines from
being implemented.
WHEREAS, Louisiana benefits from electricity prices that are significantly below
the national average price of electricity; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has benefitted from a diverse mix of electricity sources that
includes natural gas, coal, nuclear, renewable resources, and others; and
WHEREAS, maintaining a diverse, reliable, and affordable electricity supply is vital
to Louisiana's economic growth, jobs, and the well-being of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2013, the President of the United States issued a
memorandum to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) directing the EPA to develop guidelines to control greenhouse gas emissions from
existing fossil fuel-fired power plants pursuant to Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act
and to seek input from states; and
WHEREAS, on June 2, 2014, the EPA issued proposed guidelines limiting carbon
dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants in Louisiana and other states pursuant
to Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act; and
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WHEREAS, Act No. 726 of the 2014 Regular Session requires the Department of
Environmental Quality, in any response to the EPA guidelines promulgated pursuant to
Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, to develop performance standards based on measures
that can be implemented at each fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit in the state; and
WHEREAS, the EPA's proposed guidelines for reducing carbon dioxide emissions
from fossil fuel-fired power plants conflict with the statutes of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the EPA's proposed guidelines are not based on measures that can be
implemented at each fossil fuel-fired electric generating unit, but instead require significant
changes in the manner in which electricity is produced and necessitate a significant reduction
in the use of electricity by consumers in the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the EPA's proposal is based on emission reduction measures that
directly involve the production and regulation of electricity, which is the prerogative of the
states, not EPA; and
WHEREAS, the EPA does not have the legal authority to require reductions in
carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants pursuant to Section 111(d) of the
federal Clean Air Act, nor to require reductions in carbon dioxide emissions based on
changes to the electric system of any state; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Public Service Commission has estimated that the EPA
proposal would cost Louisiana ratepayers $3.96 billion to $5.7 billion; and
WHEREAS, an analysis conducted by National Economic Research Associates
Economic Consulting has projected that the EPA proposal could result in average annual
electricity price increases in Louisiana of sixteen to twenty-two percent during the period
2020 to 2029, with a peak year increase of twenty to twenty-four percent; and
WHEREAS, the EPA's proposal would have a major impact on the consumers of
electricity in Louisiana, especially low-income and middle-income families, and the
economy of the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, entities responsible for reliability of the electric grid in Louisiana,
including the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and the Southwest Power Pool,
have stated that the EPA's proposal threatens the reliability of the electric grid.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request that the United States Environmental Protection Agency withdraw the
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proposed guidelines for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power
plants pursuant to Section 111(d) of the federal Clean Air Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
and request that, in the event the United States Environmental Protection Agency adopts the
proposed guidelines, the governor and the attorney general use every means at their disposal,
including taking legal action, to prevent the guidelines from being implemented.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the governor,
and the attorney general.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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