Obama power plan draws quick criticism

BULLHEAD CITY — Calling it a moral obligation, President Barack Obama unveiled the final version of his “Clean Power Plan” to dramatically cut emissions from U.S. power plants, as he warned that climate change will threaten future generations if left unchecked.

Touting the plan at a White House event on Monday, Obama said the unprecedented carbon dioxide limits are “the single most important step” America has ever taken to fight climate change.

“By forcing this fundamentally flawed rule down the throats of energy providers and consumers, the president is threatening to extinguish millions of good paying jobs, to cause energy prices to skyrocket and to further impoverish minorities who are already struggling to make ends meet,” said District 4 U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott.   

The final version of Obama’s plan imposes stricter carbon dioxide limits on states than was previously expected: a 32 percent cut by 2030, compared with 2005 levels, the White House said. Obama’s proposed version last year called only for a 30 percent cut.

It also gives states an additional two years — until 2022 — to comply, yielding to complaints that the original deadline was too soon. States will also have an additional year to submit their implementation plans to Washington.

Opponents immediately announced they would sue the government to stop the rules from taking effect. Many Republican-led states have said their states simply won’t comply. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has encouraged GOP governors to take that step, vowed to use legislation to thwart the president’s plan.

Mohave Electric Cooperative purchases 80 to 90 percent of its electricity from the coal-fired Apache Generating Station near Cochise, Ariz., said Peggy Gillman, MEC spokeswoman. If MEC’s electricity source raises its costs due to the EPA regulations, MEC members’ bills will increase because “the cost of power makes up 80 percent of your/my electric bill so an increase in this component can be significant,” Gillman said.

“We are working with our Arizona Generation and Transmission Cooperatives to look at the potential impacts of any final Clean Power Plan rule,” said Tyler Carlson, Mohave Electric chief executive officer. 

“The G&T needs time to review the rule, which is more than 1,500 pages long and very detailed and complex,” said Geoff Oldfather, spokesman for Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives. “We’re hopeful the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency took into account the potential impacts to the members we serve and have provided time and flexibility that will provide Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives time to move toward compliance with minimal impact to the people who use our power. It may be several days before we fully understand the rule as it applies to Arizona and the state’s electric cooperatives.”

“We understand that this is an issue of huge importance,” Carlson said. “Our members agree — 11,264 Mohave Electric members took a stand last fall and joined over 1.2 million rural electric cooperative members who sent a message to EPA to consider the rule’s impact on affordability and reliability of electric power for consumers.”

Carlson spoke highly of the efforts of elected officials. “Our Congressional delegation, especially Congressman Paul Gosar and also senators (John) McCain and (Jeff) Flake supported us on this issue, along with state lawmakers as well, and we want them to know that we thank them for their involvement on behalf of our members.”

The Obama administration estimated the emissions limits will cost $8.4 billion annually by 2030. The actual price won’t be clear until states decide how they’ll reach their targets. But energy industry advocates said the revision makes Obama’s mandate even more burdensome, costly and difficult to achieve.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.