Sen. Tiffany on New EPA Regulations: ‘Higher Prices, Fewer Jobs’

MacIver News Service | March 11, 2014

by Haley Sinklair

[Madison, Wisc…] Legislators recently spoke out against new EPA regulations, set to take effect January 2015, that would eliminate high numbers of manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin.

Limits on the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions would be enforced on new power plants, with new regulations for existing power plants coming at a later date.

A new report from the Heritage Foundation projects Wisconsin would lose 11,702 jobs if the new regulations go into effect. On average, the state’s congressional districts would lose 1,463 jobs.

Wisconsin would be the hardest hit state in the country per capita.

Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, said rural Wisconsin is likely to be hit even harder.

“Higher prices, fewer jobs. The Heritage Foundations’ study illuminates in stark terms the cost of the EPA’s War on Coal, especially to those of us in the industrial heartland,” Tiffany told the MacIver News Service (MNS). “Paper mills and coal-fired power plants will be especially hard hit.”

As energy prices increase to counteract the cost of lost coal supply, an average family of four’s income is expected to decrease by $1,200 per year.

“It’s disappointing, yet not surprising to see that the federal government is once again overplaying its hand,” Rep. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) told MNS. “Just a few weeks ago the EPA announced that air quality in Southeastern Wisconsin was improving, which proves there is not a need for these overly burdensome regulations that are going to cost Wisconsin thousands of jobs.”

Kapenga is a member of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy, and Mining.

Tiffany told MNS the coal and paper industries will foster new economic growth for years to come and claimed the new regulations would do very little to help the environment, while seriously harming the industry’s ability to create new jobs.

“We need to continue to embrace the coming energy boom, now, to create economic security, job security, and national security for all,” Tiffany said. “America is on the cusp of energy independence. Let’s not waste this opportunity for miniscule benefits when the costs are huge.”