During the debate, a questioner asked Senator Brown how he could support jobs and cheaper energy in Ohio while backing a president that has declared war on coal.
"There is no war on coal. Period. There are more coal jobs and more coal produced in Ohio than there were five years ago, in spite of the talking points and the yard signs," responded Brown.
President Obama’s bullying regulatory measures, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Utility MACT rule, which Senator Brown supported, while other Democrats from coal states like Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) did not, will have a direct impact on coal and coal-fired power plants in Ohio and other states. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the rule one of the most expensive in U.S. history because of the excessive burden it places on power plants.
“Senator Sherrod Brown has been no friend of coal. Period. Don’t be fooled because the facts don’t lie. President Obama is waging a war on coal with Senator Brown as his lieutenant. Look at the job loss reports this year alone. The truth is that any more job loss might impact our current electric grid and brown outs could be a likely scenario,” said Mike Carey.
Background
Ohio Manufacturers: “National Economic Research Associates, a firm that evaluates economic impacts for government agencies, associations and businesses, in a preliminary analysis for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity projects that Utility MACT and CSAPR will result in 1.4 million lost jobs nationally over the next nine years, including 53,500 jobs in Ohio.” (Columbus Dispatch, 10/20/11)
PolitiFactOhio, Mostly True: Ohio coal industry says Obama promised to bankrupt coal-fired power plant builders The Obama administration has unquestionably angered the coal industry with rules or proposals affecting air quality standards, coal ash, renewable energy and the issuance of permits needed for coal mining. (Plain Dealer, 3/1/11)
With An Estimated $9.6 Billion Price Tag, The Rules Rank Among The Most Expensive In The EPA’s History. Large Ohio coal plants will go dark within a few years. Duke Energy announced that the Walter C. Beckjord Generating Station in Clermont County east of Cincinnati will cease operating coal-fired units in 2015. The plant has produced energy for six decades. (Dayton Daily News, 1/6/12)
Coal Raked by Regulations
- Alpha Natural Resources will cut 1,200 workers (Press Release, 9/28/12)
- PBS Coals Inc. and RoxCoal will lay off 225 workers (Erich Schwartzel, “Tow coal companies downsize,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 7/20/12)
- Arch Coal announced they will be furloughing 500 employees (Jack Latta, “Massive layoffs with Arch Coal mine closings,” Floyd County Times 7/18/12)
- Peabody to close Indiana mine (Sonja Elmquist, “Peabody to close coal mine on ‘soft market conditions,’” Bloomberg 9/5/2012)
- Patriot Coal goes bankrupt (Study, “Obama Energy Policies Are Working: Patriot Coal Goes Bankrupt,” Institute for Energy Research 7/16/12)
- The nonpartisan U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated 175 coal power plants are scheduled to be shut down from 2012 to 2016.
