The just-finalized Clean Power Plan from the Environmental Protection Agency places the first-ever limits on dangerous carbon pollution emissions from existing power plants, which the agency says will curb climate-change pollution and protect public health. Keith Reopelle is with the state’s largest environmental group, Clean Wisconsin. He says E-P-A estimates show the new limits will result in a healthier Wisconsin. The E-P-A’s proposed goal of carbon emission reductions of 41-percent by 2030 for Wisconsin is very reasonable, says Reopelle, who maintains Wisconsin is well-positioned to not only meet but exceed the goal. Wisconsin 6th District Congressman Glenn Grothman says the plan is bad for Wisconsin. “Very bad for Wisconsin because we disproportionately use coal in Wisconsin, very bad for the average guy because everybody has to pay an electric bill,” Grothman told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program. The Clean Power Plan pushes the starting date for other areas of change from 2020 to 2022, which Reopelle says will provide the state agencies and utilities greater flexibility in meeting the requirements. While critics of the plan say it’s too drastic, too expensive to implement and will result in higher utility costs, Reopelle believes exactly the opposite is true.
