officials, over 100 small-business owners have endorsed the president's climate action plan and the epa proposal. public opinion polling shows the majority of virginians support the epa, taking action on climate and to limit pollution from power plants. so the people are behind you and given the scope of the problem in the urgent need to act, we can do even better by harnessing the power of clean energy. virginia and the utilities operating in our state are far behind her neighboring states in developing a clean energy industry. our neighbor to the south north, carolina has sol 385 mikasa powerball virginia has only about 15 to 18 megawatts of solar installed by homeowners and colleges, the military and others. but we have huge potential to

meet and exceed the goals laid out for virginia and the proposed clean power plant through energy efficiency and the planet of clean energy resources like solar power and wind power. if i stay offshore wind energy area were to be fully developed, we can power over 700,000 homes just removing lloyd off the coast of virginia beach. we can build a future where eventually all of our energy comes from the wind that up the coast, from the sun shines on the rooftop every single day in making our homes and buildings so efficient that we with the solar people can cover the entire building and has more energy produced than we actually need to use. that's the future of virginians deserve, but americans deserve and that is a future that the clean power plant helps us make a step towards.

thank you very much for allowing a seriously today. >> thank you or testimony. the next speaker is our congresswoman capito and william becker. on deck behind them are fred palmer and a feed name --. >> good morning. >> shelley moore capito represented moore capito representing the sin of west virginia and house of representatives. thank you for having me today and appreciate your good hard work. i know have a long couple days. i'm here to express my states opposition to the greenhouse gas will break fisting powerplants. with the unprecedented will come in epa's gunfire beyond requiring existing coal plants to operate as efficiently as

possible. instead the framework is built around ship in the country away from coal. the federal government has no business picking winners and losers in the economy backley what it does. i'd like to share with you what your would do to my state if you come to west virginia, you would've seen and heard this for yourself. epa is held 11 public with the russian on this world but not one of those sessions has been in the 10 states that most heavily rely on coal further cogeneration, west virginia beat one of them. if you come to west virginia county would affirm from coal mining companies employ minors. for no blogging, when he testified before the house energy and commerce committee said epa's policies are condemning our families to property and despair. if you had heard from people who don't work in the mines that are directly rely on the industry and electricity to keep the company is a flow coming by for a christian marsh of quality

machine, a fabrication and any factor in bridgeport, west virginia. business used to do a lot of a lot of work in the coal mining business with a seen a significant drop. you drop. medford for businesses by film and production products and ravens lead. both companies employ hundreds of west virginia workers in an energy intensive manufacturing scenario. not coming to west virginia, kentucky, you can send a message to that part of the country, are part of the country that sees and experiences don't matter. to have the federal government refused to listen to decide and of the american people is frustrating into moralizing for us. the state of west virginia has lost five dozen coal mining jobs between 2012, 2014. many job service because of the agency and the offers going far beyond what congress intended. the state of west virginia relies 95% of its electricity

generated by coal and will be one of the biggest losers under this proposed rule. a report from the institute of energy resource on electricity prices and west virginia could increase by more than 50% by 2020. this will cause they been our capacity to be taken offline which will increase energy costs for consumers across the country. we saw with the european union carbon regulations, which increase residential electricity prices by 50 papers in between 2005 enterprise 13. proposed rule will be back for the american economy and catastrophic for working families must virginia. u.s. households they have as much electricity than households in the european union and a third as of those in germany. because of the energy intensive nature of manufacturing, low cost american jobs help keep low cost america energy help keep jobs in the u.s., jobs our economy needs for coal miners of

power plant workers aren't the only workers who lose under this proposed rule. forfeiting an energy advance will send more american manufacturing jobs overseas and hurt our economy. as their governor has said, no one single coal plants -- not one single coal they must virginia meets the standard of the 1620 pounds of carbon dioxide that would be imposed on the state. i recognize that means not every coal plant would close. the third the number of a coal units we benefit from a diverse mix in an energy strategy. in january and february this year, 92% of the increased demand for energy nationally was met by coal. american electric power operating west virginia and across the midwest was operating at 89% of the coal capacity

effect next year will be shut down due to the other epa regulations. in the house of representatives that were tirelessly to help the people of west virginia and help the epa in this administration at these regulations do to our state. i continue to invite the epa to come to west virginia and hear all sides of the issue. i've offer bipartisan resolutions calling for the epa to hold sessions in the coal reliant state. i'm here for the five minutes to tell you the consequences of the agency's decision on the people i represent. the row threatens west virginia's economic survival. i'll continue to lead efforts in congress to help stop this will and also i promise you my state and its people will also fight this will ever day. thank you for having me. >> thank you. we do have a session in pittsburgh later this week.

bill baker. >> good morning. my name is bill backer. i am the executive director of the national association of clean air agencies. our members include 42 states and 116 local air pollution agencies across the country. a partner at epa and implement and enforce the clean air act. section 111 d. of the clean air act, thus our member agencies with the ultimate responsibility to draft, under epa's powerplant proposed rule. therefore i'm pleased to have the opportunity to testify this morning and provide initial reaction to epa's proposal. the views expressed do not reflect the views of all member agencies. more than one year ago, epa began at first well to rule and conduct early outreach to other

stakeholders. in response, our association or a section 111 the prince wrote and submitted them to the agency in our 2013 and i have a copy of it will attach to our testimony. or a level of epa after proposal to not are one, we appreciate epa has included and the principles. i will give you generally sampled by highlighting the proposal that are consistent with our principles. in terms of process, epa deserves credit for not reach out for, which was truly unprecedented in duration and scope. the agency sought input from many groups, especially state and local air pollution control

agencies. it is about key interest and expertise from other stakeholders such as state energy officials and utility commissioners and they remain on going. further, epa not only geisha discussion and listen very carefully to what was said. our principles ask for limits that reflects the circumstances. epa's proposal includes state specific goals based on state and regional factors. we ask for flexibility. the proposal addresses flexibility in several ways and incorporates building blocks for sending the best systems of emission reduction, including renewable energy and energy efficiency that includes compliance flexibility beyond the building blocks and credit strategies like new natural gas combined cycle capacity of proposal gives states wide latitude to identify the overall

compliance strategies in response to their local circumstances. we asked for more time for states to develop plans for effective sources to meet obligations. the proposal offers a one-year extension for all save an additional year for states to develop a multistate approach. effective power plants have a decade to comply with the new standard. in sum, the proposed rule reflects many issues naca highlighted one year before the proposal was released. undoubtedly the same dialogue that informed epa's green power plant proposal must also inform his final role. naca's members are considering proposals numerous and complex facets, but much of their analysis so far has focused on the calculation of individual state polls. some states have expressed can earn the today's astringency or proposed target them and their

compliance flexibility is significantly limited. further, while we appreciate the extra time providing state plans, we hear sunny days they may still need additional time to handle legislatures and the schedules and rule-making conquering. finally, many state workers earned the proposal does not adequately rewards the early action. we strongly encourage epa to work with naca miniatures to address each of. though not strictly part of the proposal, but could never get resources that the local agencies will meet to make the clean power plant a success must be addressed. the planning and analysis needed to be epa's target or or higher were. they proposed the fiscal 20 team budget when he asked nearly

$20 million increase to support section 111 seaplane development. naca reiterated his support for the initial fun being in cautions against the funding for agency core programs. further research u.k. two-tailed unstrung foundation of postal dialogue and develop resources to facilitate state abilities to conduct section 111 planning. in conclusion as we move further into the comment period, we will continue to examine the proposed rule she proposed rule as she is proposed rule she just to prove it. once again, thank you for the opportunity to testify. >> thank you for your testimony. the next speakers are brett palmer and ip maine. on deck are congresswoman sanchez and colin o'mara.

>> good morning. my name is brett palmer. i am senior vice president for government relations at peabody energy. using coal for electricity enables more people to live longer and look better and it drives the lowest u.s. electricity costs for any major fuel. peabody profoundly disagrees with epa's approach on carbon under the clean air act. we are opposed to this proposal that would punish electricity consumers at no material benefit under climate. and this indeed outside the bounds of the law and the clean air act. this proposal -- >> could you get just a bit closer? >> yeah, i'm sorry. peabody has profound disagreement with the carbon on the clean air act. we are opposed to this proposal is that punishes electricity

consumers, has no material benefit under climate theory and is outside the bounds of the clean air act itself. this proposal must be withdrawn. access to clean affordable energy is essential at a time when a record 115 million americans qualified were energy assistance and 48 million americans within poverty. last week the "washington post" put a face on this very filled daily struggle that brought to light the story of a single mother of five children of pueblo, colorado struggling to pay the photos. if you need to turn the lights sheron garcia asked her son? otherwise there's no money he replies and when there's no money, you can't feed us. no matter how deep she rashes, sharon can't get ahead of rising costs. a major cause of 50 increase in electricity costs is attributable to the shutdown of

whole plant in an aggressive transition to renewables. sharing stories common place in california, a state the epa has as its energy model. california has exacerbated energy inequality and is widespread in the areas of the state of the from the coast and has turned away business based on high renewable mandates and energy taxes. efficiency in california, which is lauded by many has been achieved by destruction with large manufacturing plea in this day. california prices are 40 higher than the u.s. average in 700,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2003 at his california future, it does not work. epa's proof as though his symbolical way and would have no significant benefit under climate theory. an entire shutdown of america school fleets, which is not

being proposed, would result in one 20th of one degree temperature change. widespread opposition to the proposal is evident in his nationwide as we can see the action in the house of representatives, and the peoples house in the u.s. senate in state legislative actions. in mid-july, the house appropriations committee passed a spending bill prohibiting epa from using funds for current standards. in much the house pass without mention to propose the rules full text 111 d. without congressional approval. 41 republican senators have asked epa to withdraw the world. seven democratic senators have written the president complaining about the new performance standards. over 20 states passed legislation or resolutions stating greenhouse emissions can only be regulated on a plant by plant basis inside the fence so to speak, not the systemwide state approach epa takes. the defendant business groups

iraq today and let a partnership for a better energy future, business coalition representing 80% of the u.s. economy coast to coast. peabody poses a better passer calls for investing in efficient improvement, deployment and supercritical plants in supporting greater research and development next-generation technologies including carbon capture and storage. more and more nations are pushing back against carbon policies and epa needs to record it is. i stress the minister called the former carbon tax the useless destructive tax, which damage jobs, her family's cost of living i didn't actually help the environment and of course a carbon tax has been repealed. japan just stepped up support for cool fuel tire plants domestically and overseas in the international lending institution arena saying it would rather break a promise than its economy. once these realities are

understood at the american people, and they will be coming epa actions will be subject to this policy prescription that era were to human health and welfare, the exact opposite of epa's mandate under the clean water act. thank you. >> thank you. my name is ivy maine, chair of the virginia chapter of the sierra club representing more than 15,000 members who live in the commonwealth. i apologize a little bit of brain/year. the from our point of view, the epa's claim were planned for select the most important action the u.s. is ever taken to address global warming. the severity change the conversation in virginia. here, businesses usual has always meant keeping energy cheap no matter what it costs us. that won't fly anymore. the new reference point is

carbon. we can meet the carbon budget you profess for virginia and war is not sure when, land-based wind, solar energy and energy efficiency can do with the potential to go beyond the surface. i hope we do so because the ineffective global warming are awfully serious and we need to do everything we can to avoid much worse. as the recent risky business report warned, extreme heat is going to have a serious effect on our economy and lines. like the rest of the southeast, virginia has humid summers that make outdoor activity difficult during the worst summer heat waves. when you add to that an average temperature increase of a few degrees due to global warming and the will of long stretches of time in june, july, august and september were people on the southeast could not be out of doors in the middle of the day. not as then it's too unpleasant to be outside, but as it is widespread need to work outside. the lucky ones or lucky ones or

those with air-conditioned homes and cars and offices. even they find it a dragnet to garden or go for a run for senate children outside to play. but there's a lot of people who have to be outside. farmworkers, wrote bruce, construction workers coming day laborers, landscape workers, groupers, sanitation workers and many others. these virginians do jobs that are critical to our economy. if they're often at the bottom of a wage scale and have little say over working conditions. are these people, today's businesses usually cheap power at any cost approach is a threat to their livelihood, their health and conceivably their life. extreme heat is also a threat to virginia and a power outage. if the future of the southeast is a place uninhabitable without air conditioning, what happens when the air-conditioning goes out? every summer, storm becomes a potential health crisis, especially for the elderly and poor. people are going to die because

we believe the line addressing carbon. virginia policymakers and local officials have to begin to prepare for these effects of our fossil through addiction. there's been a lot of foot dragging of a lot of just plain hoping that won't happen. but this is our future and this is what we have to plan for. the good news is we can to limit the sense of the crisis in the clean power plant is a good place to start. thank you. >> thank you very much, both of you. next speakers are congresswoman sanchez and khaled homero. and behind them are lina moffatt in georgia murray. >> good morning. good morning. i'm congresswoman linda sanchez and proudly represent florida's

30th congressional district much to thank you for the opportunity to testify about importance of the epa clean power plant. and plant. i'm here to plant. i'm here to lend a voice to minority communities across our country whose health and livelihood are affected by poor environmental conditions. as a lawmaker environmentalism as a mother, i'm here to advocate on behalf of the full implementation of the clean power plant. i understand the urgency associated with combating verses of pollution that are contributed to climate change and posing serious health risks are general population. other represent a of a district with a large latino and asian-american population, constituents stand to lose most if we fail to implement the plan carbon reduction guideline. 31% of latinos live within 30 miles of a power plant. equally alarming is the fact that the keynotes are 100 xt 5% more likely to live in counties

with unhealthy levels of matter pollution. the consequences of environmental conditions are evident in the high rates of asthma among the latino community. over 3.6 million latinos in the u.s. suffer from asthma and putting one in 10 latino children. as a mother, these numbers are unacceptable and it underscored the need for common sense plan to reduce carbon pollution especially from high producing sources such as power plants. in the united states today, power plants are the largest source of carbon dioxide emission and they produce one third of all domestic greenhouse emissions. despite the staggering statistics, carbon pollution from power plants is currently not regulated. regulating carbon output would help reduce pollutants that contribute to this and small to make people sick. i'm here to declare we can no longer afford to wait to act on climate change.

i want a safe and secure future for my son and are the constituents they represent and i think millions of parents across the country would agree with me. as government officials, we are cast with promoting the well-being of our citizen and i know we can do more to address the health risk associated with carbon pollution. the clean power plant is a seersucker is protecting americans americans from the consequences of climate change. it clearly outlines the changes that must be made in order to limit the health and economic costs associated with carbon pollution. if implemented, the clean power plan would cut pollution by 30% from 2005 levels and resulting 55 >> $93 billion in health and climate benefits. because there are costs associated with doing nothing. i know that this change is possible because my home state of california has 30 implemented any of the guidelines proposed at the epa and the facts speak

for themselves. california has the fourth lowest carbon emission in the nation and our electric bills are 25% below average. let me repeat that because i think there's been erroneous prior testimony. california's electric bills are 25% below average. the benefits are sick if you can't, but the cost of not acting are much greater. on behalf of our country, my constituents in the 28 million hispanics living in areas with unhealthy levels of a son, i urge you to fully implement the clean power plant and a thank you for allowing me to testify today. >> thank you very much. >> good morning. it is wonderful to be with all of your thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of the clean power plant. it's an honor to sit with congresswoman sanchez, who i am a big fan and an honor to be in

the same room for administrator mccarthy announced the plan a few months ago. as ceo of the nation's wild -- largest wildlife conservation with 4 million members and supporters in 48 state 48 states of the organization, the national wildlife federation is here today because of the treasured wildlife outdoor heritage communities affected by climate impacts right now. i'm here to speak for wildlife because they can't speak for themselves. as any hunter or a blur, farmer or forrester, hike or camp or what they see on the ground and they will tell you things are changing. for wildfires in the western address in the southeastern california to the the five-minute lifetime of storms in this keyboard, writing the comedy evidence of climate impact or around s. been occurring right now. the stories that destroy habitat communities from extreme storms in particular becoming all too familiar. wildlife are struggling and as the breeding ground spanish, the range is shifted to sources that

scares or overrun by invasive species. to many species we love our bread. news for minnesota and maine are seeing record drops in population due to exploding populations. trout and salmon are struggling the rivers and streams run warm. shorebirds migrating for delaware and the ones the five way through its rapid loss of roosting habitat due to coastal erosion and see rise. in the web and print runs of her treasured are affecting back and the like love aaron farr. we are not very loose in our outdoor heritage. in addition action threatens multibillion dollars outdoor recreation and tourism economy. sportsmen and other enthusiasts help protect wild places as well as billions of dollars into a local economies. while the national wildlife federation is working diligently with managers across the country to help make wildlife habitat and local communities for soy,

science tells us who to rapidly curb to avoid impacting many species will not deal to adapt to. we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to reduce and invest in a clean energy future that will protect wildlife, children, air and water and healthy communities prosper. for these reasons we're here to applaud the step of reading and carbon pollution from nations largest industrial source summit is in power plants. state affiliates are lining up in hearings across the country right now to talk about jewish overcome these issues locally and support the effort about the hearings across the country. the proposed standard is a strong start. it is a uniquely american solution establishes common sense savers while providing safe to the flexibility and tools to achieve in a way that makes the most sense for them. it builds effectively upon across the nation and allows for regional cooperation which has been proven as the best way to address pollution transcends the

boundaries and nuclear epa listen closely to the stakeholders in developing this plan. .. in my previous role as secretary of national resources and environmental control and the lure of the privilege of playing a leading role, doing creative regional programs for reducing carbon emissions. this initiative underscores the potential for a forward thinking ambitious emission reduction program to achieve meaningful results of reducing costs and

creating jobs. demonstrating it is possible to reduce carbon pollution in ways that reduce energy bills, create tens of thousands of construction jobs, deliver billions of dollars in economic savings and lend value to the economy as well as reducing emissions by more than 40%. it demonstrates that ambitious targets can be met. this is actual tangible proof on the ground. epa has key elements that could yield the benefits we observed throughout the implementation. written comments will go into more detail, but there are two areas i would like to highlight the the most effective way to reduce carbon pollution and energy bills simultaneously is energy efficiency. i saw firsthand the massive potential in the economic opportunity particularly in urban communities through investment in energy efficiency. energy efficiency assumptions could be strengthened and should strive to replicate the proven

successes of many of these programs and policies already in place fifth. secondly, epa should adjust the renewable energy growth assumptions to reflect. as technology and supply prices continued to plummet many states have already or will soon meet the level of renewable energy generation that epa is soon to reduce state targets should be strengthened to reflect those. technology is underrepresented. despite the potential of reduced cost. through these two actions the plan can achieve greater reduction of only four americans fish, wildlife, birds, the millionaire sportsman, hunters and anglers, nature lovers across the country and for future generations. on behalf of our 4 million members and supporters including

the 8,000 members in the national wildlife federation already submitting cummins, we applaud you for taking this important step and look for to working with all of you to achieve the new standards to protect wildlife across the nation. thank you. >> thank you. >> next speakers. spots on deck behind them, and a white guard. >> good morning. try and keep us on time. won't delay. thank you for this opportunity to comment. i am the manager for federal policy. i will try not to repeat too much of what my bosses said. the national wildlife federation is the country's oldest and largest of led conservation

organization committed to safeguarding our while lumpur heritage for future generations. affiliate organizations in almost every state across the country committed to protecting wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on. to that and affiliate organizations are present and committed to seeing this role of the finish line. this includes our affiliates in places like nebraska, texas, arkansas, virginia, north carolina, maine, montana, and more. they have seen the devastating impact of climate change is having an understandably must take action to avoid increasing extinctions of species we care about. members and affiliate's partners understand that the claim power plant presents an unparalleled opportunity to truly foster local renewable solutions to climate change the country has been waiting for far too long. by including renewable energy sources and energy efficiency your agency has potentially unleased -- potentially open the

floodgates for american ingenuity to tackle climate change head-on. to build state based partnerships that are missed the -- harness the resources of sun and wind, invest in communities, grow the manufacturing base and reinvigorate american in the clean energy economy of tomorrow. we are here today to demonstrate our support and lean into the challenge. it can and should be even stronger. the solutions that we know already exist. would like to share a few key technical recommendations that we will expand upon. overall the standard canons should be stronger. analysis has indicated reactions on the order 35 to 40% by 2020 can be achieved at reasonable cost. secondly, agency has rightly recognize that energy -- energy efficiency is the most cost-effective and efficient way to reduce emissions quickly.

many state programs has successfully demonstrated the potential for efficiency to quickly and affordably reduce emissions, however cost-effective energy efficiency can be achieved even more quickly than assumed in setting state standards. third, wildlife readily renewable energy has been growing at an astonishing rate. 2012 wind and solar power to of the fastest growing electronic generation technologies in the u.s. capacity increased by nearly 20% and cumulative photovoltaic capacity grew more than 83% from the previous year. rightly including resources in setting state standards. the availability and quality of renewable energy opportunities assumed was too low. by setting assumptions about renewable energy but it flew low the standard currently leaves achievable reductions on the table. fourth, we believe epa should analyze resource availability and cost on the state and regional basis rather than limiting the assessment of

potential development car rental portfolios standards and remove artificial growth constraints on renewable energy. we hope you'll consider the full potential of the wind ran up to five why friday of renewable resources. in establishing eats states started your agency must account for planted it -- anticipated retirement. lori many resources. they must ensure state target strive missions reductions. finally epa must also address life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, particularly given. in many states like pennsylvania and colorado to encourage epa to move forward with parallel separate regulations in concert with the clean power plant to insure that unchecked methane pollution does not erode the

climate benefits of a switch to natural gas. we look forward to working with you to strengthen finalize and implement the important standards. young people get this issue. we are here. we have your back. >> good morning. appreciate the opportunity to come speak from new hampshire. the appalachian mountain mission is to protect -- promote the protection command's army command understanding of the mountains, forests, and watters and sales. we have more than 100,000 members and supporters who lives there reside in the northeast and mid-atlantic. as an outdoor constituency we are concerned about the current day impact an increase in trips of plan change. members value consistent in winter for snowshoeing cross-country skiing as to the many small and big businesses that rely on what to recreation.

we are concerned about the threat to healthy air and the degradation of air quality and warmer world. the increasing number of severe storms the recanted of landscape and infrastructure and require significant transfer maintenance for safe and enjoyable i can. we have evidence of change happening today just outside my office in new hampshire and i brought a few graphics. this shows the time trend of snowfall from new hampshire over time since the 30's. 67 inches less snowfall and total on average. we are seeing snow leaving 15 days earlier run average. we are seeing temperatures trance similar to what is seen across the region and the globe and are also seeing that increase as you move through time in the rate of change. it is happening now. we strongly support the epa authority to regulate greenhouse

gases and the clean air act and believe that it is appropriate and essential to regulate these air pollutants or existing power plants under section 111 d of the act. we are encouraged by the overall emission reduction that epa has proposed a 30% but 2030 from party from power plants which would be is to give the a step toward achieving the of the initial target. the clean air act requires that systems in mission reductions is established and setting of the standards. we believe that epa has provided a flexible and effective achievable and already proven best system a person considers cause and the normal targets. epa has called for states to submit enforceable state implementation plans that will ensure state emission reductions target of matt. many states have found success.

the recently strengthened program has a significant reductions in greenhouse gas solutions. minor adjustments that should be made with the program to ensure that epa targets are met. we look towards encouraging other states to join the program we believe the focus on energy efficiency and conservation should be the priority of any plan to reduce the impact of climate change. to achieve this balance we need to reduce the overall demand for energy. i did want to highlight some initial concerns with the proposed rule targets and

assumptions. epa issued basies states renewable efficiency targets on the policies already adopted in each state. epa should not use formulas that -- should not use formulas for state targets that assume last generation and energy efficiency savings and 2,030 and the state has already achieved today. rate based in matt based options energy efficiency investments have been proven to be highly effective and more cost of plant and must be a core component in our transition to a clean energy economy. thank you for this opportunity to comment. we look for to submitting more sensitive written comments for the public comment in october. thank you. >> thank you both very much.

>> next speakers r hanna and jeff. i would reiterate something i said earlier. may not have been here. we are taking written comments until october 16th. we encourage people to elaborate on an oral statement or if you prefer to submit a written statement instead of world, written statements carefully read. >> thank you. take a couple snapshots. i lived and shows will virginia.

impacted by extreme coal mining methods. the power station. the younger sister suffer from asthma. the programs to grow a local energy efficiency and clean energy economy. results supporters of energy efficiency and renewable energy along with public health and environmental advocates are watching closely to see how epa guidelines in plus. we have seen as well of support from our region for a strong woman on card backs of pollution from the country's nearly 600 coal-fired parlance. folks across the political spectrum have actually been making the connection between global warming and energy choices if especially when it comes to sea level rising the impacts have been covered.

we hear from home gardeners and large still to the large-scale growers alike. tsk see increasing. i was struck by the point made about the outdoor tourism. to wrap up our region will benefit from the opportunities that this will signal and a way that it will advance carbon pre energy. receiving greater health and benefits. because they were placed. and according to evans at carnegie-mellon university to directly "a wind turbine displacing twice as much carbon backside as the same turbine in california. while many states in our region lacked good policies, diminishing : investment is already a clear trend.

it will in the financing where there are no feasible alternatives. goldman issued a paper recently. we have seen the signs. translate into the final rule that drives reductions in wasted energy. our region has seen jobs decline . initiatives like promise zones. reno the administration has shown its commitment to justice. on behalf of our supporters and across the country who are waiting a strong final version, thank you for your and responsible approach. thank you. >> thank you very much. just one second. i am going to exercise prerogative.

senator medically is here. he needs to leave shortly. the next panel will be governor mark l. and senate to berkeley. i ask your indulgence. >> thank you for the opportunity . i was born and raised in virginia. i am are rising sophomore and environmental nonprofit leading to concerted efforts to protect the apple lassen region. use my first week on the job. the epa. this summer has culminated. weaving together familiar

lessons. present the most important of all. strength in numbers and strength and diversity. in a few short weeks of petitioning the public we have collected over a thousand 220 individual, and cards and support of a clean power plant. across all of virginia and beyond these individuals realize their virginity to build their own space economy through a common-sense approach. small-business owners, the economic background in many communities have also responded fight. recent polling from american sustainable business council indicates a clear majority of small business owners to support government regulations. in one week 51 small business owners signed, and cards. in an incident, safety, health and environment.

the tough questions and considering the environmental agenda. i certainly think so. fifty-one small business owners. we are advocating for a clear future with energy efficiency and renewals. and if implemented poorly much of our work will be for naught. when we are prepared to keep fighting as we continue to adjust the risks associated with climate change. creating this unique space, critically challenging. in the subsequent years it will make these superficial examining and learning for the benefit of future generations and myself. thank you. >> thank you both very much.

next panel and as governor mark kelly. think this was supposed to say senator markey. senator mark the car wreck? unless there are two. senator, you are welcome. is there a signature mercury? is that correct? side. wondered. you where your first. senator, you will be next. my home state. >> thank you for the opportunity to testify on the importance of a clean power plant. in particular wanted thank the epa for taking this historic steps to tackle car pollution. of all heard the argument from skeptics that the claim power plant is just another job killing regulation. let's get the facts straight.

carbon pollution is waging a direct assault on rural americans. it is a direct assault on jobs in america. and if we sit back and do nothing there will be severe economic disruption. in that context that harry indispensable to our economic future. this is an issue that affects every state in our country. today i will speak specifically about the impacts we are seeing in my home state of oregon are farming, fishing, and forest industries of already seeing the effects of carbon pollution. let me start with farming. farming is crucial to organs rural economy. many family farmers and ranchers rely on snowmelt to provide a stable supply of irrigation water in the spring. we're already seeing a 20% drop in the snowpack in the cascades says 1950.

with warmer temperatures and less waters farmers have seen a significant problem regarding the supply of water. not only that, but precipitation patterns are becoming increasingly a regular. hammered by major drops in 2001, 2010, 2013. struggling to stay afloat. if you talk to these farmers and ranchers not justing clara county but throughout oregon you will hear the impact of the changing climate is not some distant threat but a threat and reality right now. fishing is another critical industry in danger from the assault of carbon pollution. with lower snow we have warmer

and smaller rivers in the spring . summer making it harder on trout and certainly more difficult for our salmon and steelhead. and our oyster farmers are being impacted by a russian acidification. greater carbon dioxide in the air by the addition resulting in more acidity. car now said dissolves in the russian and becomes carbonic acid. our russian is 30 percent more acidic today than it was before the industrial revolution. preventing young horses from forming cells causing mortalities an oyster hatchery's if that is a challenge for a baby and oyster what else is going on that we should be deeply concerned about? talking to fishermen and oyster farmers in oregon you will hear that climate change in cover pollution is not some distant threat.

it is happening now. let's turn. kara pollution is also a compounding threat to the forest. supporting thousands of jobs and our state. warmer conditions but are force under greater stress making them more prone to wildfires and infestations. you have to look no further than the wild fires burning in oregon today to see how bad this problem is. at this moment we have seven large fires running which have been sickened almost half a million acres, and we are still with many months ago in the fire season. in fact, the fire season has grown from five months to seven months just since the 1970's. in addition, mountain pine beetle infestations are turning previously green forests and their red landscapes of dead trees known as the red zone. these infestations continue to spread across the northwest to to warmer in shorter winters.

combined with decades of hazardous fuels building up and our forest climate change is making a bad problem worse. so if you talk to foresters and/or in you will hear that climate change is not some distant threat. it is happening right now. as we could look at any one of these impacts as an anomaly. but when you step back and look at the picture, the trend, the science is undeniable. certainly carbon pollution is assaulting our raw resources and the impact is growing. our farming, fishing, and forestry matters to the state of oregon and to our nation, and they need to be protected. a clean power plant will not only save jobs in the sectors but invest in hundreds of thousands of jobs in a clean energy economy. in fact, the solar energy industry alone now employs roughly twice as many people as the coal mining industry to say

nothing of wind, biomass, geothermal, and other renewable resources. this is why it is important to clean. if anything magic we should think seriously about strengthening it. let there be no doubt that a key -- a clean power plant is if a key tool to. it is a catalyst to help grow a thriving clean energy economy that will drive even more jobs as henry thoreau once said, what is good is all if you don't have a tolerable plan to put on. >> can i remind all speakers to state your name put a trend? >> my name is jack clark l., governor of the state of delaware testifying in support of a clean power plant.

we know what this plant can do for the nation. more research manufacturing and construction jobs and more efficient and less costly energy we know that because we see this happening in delaware. over the past five years we shifted from one of the dirty as an engine makes is in the nation tour of the cleanest. creating jobs the same time. we have done so with the same approach that the president proposes for the country. we shut down the tools which nine out of ten dirtiest power plants while the remaining units installed hundreds of millions of dollars. since 2008 we have strengthened building codes and have spurred a hundred million dollars in the efficiency of great. we have also worked this is the

route to region to dramatically cut carbon pollution. the original green house-initiative and used a market-based system to help reduce carbon pollution power plants by more than 40% in 2009. in the epa plan we will stimulate more of this activity. reducing dirty emissions recognizing that power plants produce more of these emissions than any other source in the country. one example of what i strategy has meant for delaware hundreds of people were working to build a natural-gas powered generating facility. that made it a priority to transition away from the power plants that produced the most emissions. of course they do. it is good for their bottom line in addition facilities will

produce cost-effective energy that will reduce energy bills while making our state more attractive to manufacturers. in fact, across the country it is projected that the claim power plant which shrinks electricity bills by 18%. far beyond the impact on individual energy companies or on customer bills. a report last month on the economic risks of climate change illustrating the widespread effect. damage to coastal communities, public health and labor productivity. all of this damage costs us money. in delaware we have seen how rising sea levels are powerful in frequent storms and other extreme weather conditions that the families and businesses at risk. ..

and i'm a little out of order, rick dobson and then craig. >> i'd like to encourage anybody who would like a seat there are plenty of seats in the middle

were behind me if you would prefer to sit bandstand. good morning. >> good morning. i am senator edward t. from massachusetts. i'm here today to stand for clean air, safe water and the planet is running a fever. there are no emergency rooms for planets. america must lead. history calls us to reduce greenhouse gases and unleash a clean energy revolution. when america sets strong safeguards and when our innovative spirit rises to the challenge many of americans are healthier and that hair is cleaner and water is safer. but that hasn't stopped critics from attacking these proposed rules and the environmental

protection agency. republicans in congress have said these rules would be catastrophic. the house speaker called them that's. one even accused the epa of acting like terrorists. if the critics of action spent more time believing in american innovation and less time attacking science i believe our economy and our environment and planet would all be better off. because in my home state of massachusetts, we have been reducing carbon pollution for years and the results are tremendous. the proposed rule said america should reduce carbon emissions from coal plants by 30% by 2030. from 2005 levels. massachusetts as a part of the regional agreements to cut emissions has already reduced emissions by roughly 40% by the

2005 levels. massachusetts has moved aggressively to natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency. we are a small densely populated state known more for the perfect storm than a perfectly sunny day. last year, massachusetts ranked fourth in the nation and solar deployment. we've been the number one state in the nation for energy efficiency for three years in a row and we will soon be breaking ground on the first offshore wind farm in the country's history. but for the effects from oldies carbon cutting actions. we have outpaced the national leverage every single month except for three since the 2008 financial crash.

we employee 80,000 people in clean energy in massachusetts that number is expected to grow to 90,000 people working on the clean energy in massachusetts by the end of this year. when electricity rates in the united states have climbed 13% over the past eight years, they've declined by 8% in massachusetts over the time that we have been reducing greenhouse gases. it's increased by 23% on nearly $80 billion the amount of electricity actually declined. in massachusetts we have slashed the carbon admissions and we've grown our economy and created the 21st century jobs and reduce the amount of electricity that we consume and we pay less for

electricity. massachusetts has shown that reducing carbon pollution can be a money saver in a job creator. i think the administrator and staff for cracking the common sense rule that will allow each state to find the best way to make the carbon pollution reductions in their state. as the epa works to finalize the rule in the coming year i encourage the agency to look closely at the ability of energy efficiency and renewable energy to drive further reductions. the reality of climate change is already here. globally june was the hottest june on record going back to 1880 the warmest june after. for three injured 52 straight months to plan its temperature has been above the 20th century average. that means if you are

29-years-old or younger, you have never known a month without higher than average temperatures the seas are rising, storms are getting stronger, the drought is longer, heat waves are more intense. he understands regardless of the faith or party we are all called to respond to this personal and planetary challenge. we allow the united states to engage in clean energy creation of a benefit all of creation. global warming is a moral issue. it is a security issue and an economic issue. it is the challenge of our time and we must rise to meet. thank you. >> good morning.

i'm the vice president for energy policy at the center of progress. center for american progress is a think tank to improve the lives of americans through progressive ideas and actions. i'm here to commend the environmental protection agency for its proposed clean powerplant. for too long they've been able to spew carbon pollution into the air without limits without regard to the harm that pollution is doing and will do. the science is absolutely clear that we need to cut the carbon solutions and the powerplant is an essential step in after action. by setting standards for power plants the epa proposed rule will not only cut pollution but also help establish the united states as a global leader in the fight to pimex change can save american families money on their energy bills come in through the nation's health and help bring clarity to the rapidly changing energy sector. numerous reports have sounded the change and they change into the climate assessment released earlier this year is one of the most recent and most thorough evaluations of different.

climate change was once considered its moved firmly into the present and the impact is being felt by real people from louisiana to alaska and vermont washington. the report concludes however that the future severity is get to be determined in the states the amount will still largely be determined by the choices the society makes my pollution. lowering emissions mean less future warming and less severe impacts. higher emissions mean more warming and impacts. the new white house report released this morning explains how to bloody the cost against the nation not only will we suffer increased damages associated with the impact of the impact of climate change, we will also have extensive mitigation costs as the needed amount of reduction speakers speed and with each year of delete action. this morning i want to make several key points about the epa

proposal. first although some are urging bpa to allow industrial facilities to salute impunity is the agency must stay committed to its nation protecting our children from carbon pollution is your legal duty and its everyone's obligation. second, the epa will have the opportunity to strengthen the proposal before it is finalized last year. we urge them to do so. some of the lowest cost emissions available are in our electricity system and we should do all we can to take advantage of them. for example the powerplant should recognize the huge potential of energy efficiency and the remarkable demonstrated growth rate of renewable energy determining the possible emissions reductions. finally, we should recognize that electric utilities are typically sophisticated entities that can innovate and respond to new policy directions. for years they've understood the climate science and have known the action to address with the

inevitable. in fact utilities have supported the carbon tax and cap and trade proposals and clean energy standards. for this reason alone to alone the flexibility and achieving the goals can have benefits to stakeholders however the final plan must be crafted in a way that ensures environmental results marrying the flexibility with accountability. and because of the response to climate change may require additional reductions in the power sector. the target are all that can be asked of the electric utilities. former treasury secretary is robert rubin and hank paulson recently agreed to climate change poses a huge risk to the nation's economy. fortunately, it's not too late to address the risk. the proposed power plant is in the central step to curbing pollution and managing the risk. the center for progress supports the proposal and it bridges the epa to examine opportunities to realize even greater emissions reductions before finalizing the plan next year. thank you for the opportunity to

testify. >> thank you very much. >> next speaker is fred and with him all in the alexander -- lindsay alexander. the expected when you think you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the president's plan. i'm president of the environmental defense fund and the national organization that has science can economics, law and private sector partnerships to solve the most serious environmental problems. right now there are no limits on the powerplant and that simply is unacceptable. on behalf of the 800,000 members and activists, i'm here today to

strongly support action to finally limit carbon pollution from power plants. but even more come i'm here on behalf of the hundreds of millions of americans who will benefit from the clean powerplant. for the millions of kids who will have fewer asthma attacks in the future including the severely impacted communities of latino children who are 40% more likely to suffer from attacks, for the workers who will find jobs in the growing industries like wind, solar, and energy efficiency and the ratepayers that see their electricity bills go down as we modernize the way that we create and consume electricity and for all of those who will be protected from the most damaging impact of climate change for our children and grandchildren who will know that our generation cared enough to leave them a safer healthier world. i'm particularly enthusiastic about the rule you are

considering sets national standards that leaves the states the freedom to design the approach that best fits their circumstances and encourages investors and lunch entrepreneurs to the solution and gives the flexibility to find the most efficient path to the clean future. we be leave the clean powerplant is a historic step forward for america and the world. they also need to deliver deeper pollution reductions more rapidly than proposed. there also needs to be a pathway to update the standards over time to account for advances in technology and improvements and the best systems for the emissions reductions. we know the transition to clean energy is not only possible, but it is affordable. we are already halfway to achieving the goal that you set for 2030. if the cost of the renewable

energy has dropped dramatically in recent years. for instance the price of solar panels has been cut 75% since 2008 and the u.s. added more solar capacity of the past 18 months than the previous 30 years combined. this means we have even more ambitious goals for clean energy. this helps put us on a path to the more customer choices on energy. now we've heard from customers who have freed themselves from utility bills because they are making their own clean energy. but we've seen efforts by some to undermine progress toward clean energy pushing the states to limit consumer access to clean energy sources like solar. the interest groups who oppose this plan profit from the way things are done now have certainly done their best to scare the public. they do it every time we try to

make array or cleaner but in every case the predictions have been flat wrong. the the cost of the lower of pullover and the benefit far greater than they've claimed. in fact every time they used to act use the act to limit air pollution it ended up boosting our economy. overall the benefits outweigh the cost by 30 through code one and every one has saved lives, tens of thousands of lives. hiding from challenges is not what americans do and it's certainly the wrong path for us and for generations to come. the bottom line is we cannot continue down the path of unlimited pollution. science demands that that proposal would be only the first step in addressing carbon pollution from the largest source in our country. this plan is moderate, flexible and necessary.

i hope liberals and conservatives and democrats,, business people and environmentalists can work together to adopt a strong limits on carbon pollution and move the nation forward to a clean and prosperous future. thank you. >> two good morning. i'm lindsay mosely alexander vice president director of the american lung association campaign. i appreciate very much the opportunity to speak with you today. to support the epa proposal to limit the carbon pollution from existing power plants. the american lung association is committed to finding carbon pollution because it saves lives and improves health which is our mission. even in the steps in place to reduce air pollution from evidence warns that higher temperatures due to carbon pollution and climate change increased the risk of unhealthy air in large part of the united

states because the heat and enhances conditions for the zero so and particular matter. we've come a long way in the fight to reduce evolution. thanks in large part to the work of this agency. but it's clear that we still have a long way to go to ensure the air we breathe doesn't make people sick or kill them and we certainly don't want to see it get worse due to climate change. for those who live with chronic lung disease be particular matter can cause difficulty breathing, cause asthma attacks and premature death and have been linked to low birth weight and newborns. children are vulnerable because the airwaves are still developing. even healthy children who grow up where the levels are high or maybe at greater risk for the lung disease later in life. particular matter is linked to heart attacks and strokes and we now know that particular matter also causes lung cancer which is the number one cancer killer in women. in addition to the air quality

that recent national climate assessment highlights other critical health impacts of climate change that are being felt across the nation today including heat wave, wildfire, drought, excessive precipitation, flooding, dust storms and more. all of these events have very serious public health consequences that we cannot afford to ignore. reducing the carbon pollution from the powerplant is a vital step in the right connection. the american lung association also separates the good news that taking steps to produce carbon pollution from existing power plants will also cut other life-threatening air pollutants including nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide and mercury. this is a win-win for the american people. why? but look what these do. nitrogen oxide era takes the lungs and increases the risk of infection. sulfur dioxide triggers asthma attacks and increases risks of

hospitalization and emergency room visits. these public and are also known as precursors to the ozone and particulate matter as previously discussed and everyone knows that mercury is a dangerous toxin. it's vital that epa calculates and calculated to inform the public of these important ice eating benefits producing carbon pollution from the power plants. so thank you for doing so. we would like to offer a few suggestions for improving the plan and maximizing the protection. to adequately protect public health, we need greater reductions in carbon pollution and other pollutants than what the epa has outlined in the proposal. the association strongly urges the emission reduction targets providing greater immediate and long-term public health benefits. we also he also urged the epa to shorten the time frame to five years without setting the weak standards to accommodate a shorter timeframe. the association doesn't support the combustion for electricity production. the epa should revise its plan to exclude the congestion

combustion as an alternative source. eta must ensure that the powerplant provides real relief to communities located near the powerplant who suffered the impact of the pollution for decades. finally we are gpa to quickly and clearly spell out the timing and process for how to enforce federal plans for states that fail to meet the requirements. we will submit more detailed in the comments. separately again thank you for the opportunity to speak to a. >> thank you both very much. the next panel is cindy parker and matt.

>> is cindy parker present? okay. in that case pamela will be a part of the panel. >> i promise to not take it personal if nobody wants to sit by me. >> thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak for a few minutes today. i'm the chairman of the american conservative union. acu is the country's oldest and largest grassroots organization and we are deeply concerned about the epa proposed carbon scheme. we belief that the epa proposal is flawed for a wide range of reasons many of which have been discussed by other speakers. actually not that many speakers. in particular, we believe that

the proposal is yet another example of executive overreach and a violation of the principle of cooperative federalism. the epa proposal is an unacceptable example of executive overreach. issues such as climate change policies involve complicated issues that touch on all aspects of our economy and lives the decisions of how and whether to create those should be made by the representative branches of government, not by the unelected federal agency officials. in fact the only reason this proposal is under consideration by the epa is because it tends to be shaped the energy sector and economy through legislation that have failed. the president is attempting to circumvent the will of the people and congress through regulatory fiat proposing hundreds of pages of new regulations based on the provision in the clean air act that has never been used for the regulatory approach this broad.

and while we appreciate the chance to speak these public sessions are a poor substitute for the democratic liberation and debate by elected officials in the states and in congress. the bottom line if the goal is to make sound policy, the democratic system is the right tool to use not bureaucratic fiat. overall we share justice leah's recent statement that the epa rules should be viewed with skepticism when the agency, quote, discovers in a long extend statute and then heralded power to regulate, quote, a significant portion of the american economy. this proposal by the epa is just such a fool converting 300 words of the statutory language and hundreds of pages of regulatory mandates touching on every aspect of the modern economy. this proposal should be rejected because it turns the proper

relationship between the congress and the executive agency on its head making the epa more powerful than congress and he told the president can use to bypass the representative branch of the government. this is undemocratic, unlawful and unacceptable. the epa proposal is also insupportable because it violates the basic tenants of cooperative federalism. our constitution constitution and trusted states with most topics in states should be able to make policies regarding the two city generation and efficiency without being second guessed by the epa. although the epa and supporters of the proposal has touted have touted its flexibility, this proposal makes state permits subservient to the epa. with states having to seek approval for the policies on the topics ranging from how electricity is generated to state tax policies related to energy to how the companies and households use electricity. even more disturbing, at a recent testimony before congress about the epa administrator

confirmed state legislators would have to obtain signoff on the legislation that they adopt through normal democratic means. making state legislators accountable to peta for every aspect of energy and electricity policy makes a mockery of the founders conception of federalism. to serve as laboratories of democracy is as our founders envisioned, states must be free to develop policies appropriate for their people without having to ask the epa permission. giving states the targets into telling them to sit with her plans, reaching those targets is not cooperative and it is not federalism. it is a form of centralized energy planning that is inconsistent with our federal system and should be rejected. the epa hasn't been given the power and does not have the expertise to engage in the type of centralized economic energy planning that this proposal represents. if adopted, acu fears that this

proposal will deliver no real efforts to help for the economy and will further erode the relationship between the executive and legislative branches in the states and in the federal government. the epa should withdraw the proposal to cease trying to find ways to use limited grant of authority is to us to circumvent congress and control the state governments. thank you very much. >> the next panel is pamela ellis one more time.

[inaudible conversations] good morning. >> good morning. go ahead. i am here today with my sister. we came today to talk about the concessions that students have towards the environment. they think it is a joking matter. >> i heard one say the two planets meet. the first one reassures them. >> this is how it goes. the first one asks how are you? the second premise is not very well. the first one reassures him

saying i have them, too. it doesn't last long. >> the fact that people are joking about it sort of indicates that students today don't think they need to create sustainable. i agree there's been a growing number of disregard to the environment. because adults don't show examples of positive examples for us to look up to. >> in my class i learned that studies show air pollution is making kids unhealthy. >> i don't think that we need to be biography to understand that kids these days are having more allergies than past generations before them.

>> we needed those around us to try to tell people about this problem so that the kids will also start taking it seriously. ..

john abraham and michael mccracken. growing up in the capital city of charleston, west virginia, i recall happy days, filled with

healthy straying from the mountains where you live. turtles, frogs and plant life. it is fair that i first developed by understanding what the earth and community. unfortunately, i was also aware and witnessed first-hand air and water pollution in that now was bouley and relentless examples of strip binding of black lung disease case is in west virginia affects you my friend and neighbors. but anthropogenic causes despite the epa's best efforts. while in high school, my first job was the union carbide chemicals, and institute west virginia, where i worked as an industrial hygienic assistant

during the summer of my junior year. i was given a notice of analyzer by come in the officials and osha regulations to read. this involves spending considerable time taking air quality samples in the neighborhoods they're the plant site. i went on to major in chemistry and later completed doctoral work in the field of higher education. so from this experience is, i understood that the import roles of environmental protection and economic employment opportunity. journey today with concerned citizens across the country, i asked the epa of the united states of america to boldly lead the revelation and revolution

necessary that will finally put us on a sustainable path to a hopeful climate future. by working closely with the occupational safety and health administration, the epi has a congressional mandate to provide regulations with inspections proper investigations of legal actions, extending to the very corporate managers in industry who fail to meet the adequate standards that protect our health and environment. not surprising i have a firm conviction that we must take the strongest stand possible on science and accountability by protecting our climate disruption outgrown. our leading scientists and environmentalists are now our staunchest political activists, including jim hansen from nasa

and bill mckibben 350.org who i joy in that 80% to 90% am fossil fuel usage are the target most warranted instead of the current modest 30% reduction proposed by 2030. political debates of fossil fuel dependency continue unabated with adequate energy installations of innovative renewables. a divestment from fossil fuel and reinvestment in renewable energy sources and infrastructure is the transition that the epa needs to encourage for all americans to do the

same. we pledge our nonpartisan support for the economic opportunity of clean-air technology and we are but the epa of the step of the way towards this goal. you're a firm commitment and effort towards u.s. global leadership and implementation of a comprehensive climate change, carbon emission reduction plan for generations to come are ultimately the prerequisites for civilization as we have known it. i want to believe that every epa employee will make sure that this job gets done. thank you. >> thank you very much for all three of you. the next panel is amanda gardner and were a smith way.

on deck is chip homestead and mary martin. could you pull the microphone a little closer? that one right they are. >> my name is amanda gardner appeared and represent the west virginia sierra club chapter cochair of the energy efficiency campaign team. i have a double major commercial recreation and tourism as well as environmental sustainability. i remember the international ecotourism society as well as attending the international ecotourism and sustainable tourism conference. ecotourism is your thoughts will travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people. socially, physically and

economically. yesterday, the epa released an article in the navajo generating station located 20 miles from the grand canyon. it's a 2250-megawatt coal-fired plant within the navajo nation. i stated in yesterday's article, the grand canyon attracts more than 4.4 million people and provide 7400 jobs in 4.4 million people spend $467 million. the epa plans to reduce emissions by 80%. this is said to reduce the visual impairment by 73%. i stated in yesterday's article, and epa regional administrator for pacific southwest that the flexible practical solution will also generate critical revenues improve public health provide long-term certainties to power and water utilities and set the stage for a transition to a clean future. is a clean powerplant only makes sense. you said so yourself.

>> thank you for taking the time. many miscreant miss white and i'm here before you in a variety of roles. as an artist, a leader in west virginia community concerned with energy and environment as a real-world example in listing for me as a supporter of the clean powerplant. or my professional music career i first-hand experience evaluating the carbon emissions and activities. at power by recording it for them as solar energy is taken since to be as efficient with energy needs and uses that they can. i've ridden a bicycle from west virginia to perform in d.c. and national guard. i perform and record a mountaintop removal sites, highland streams national park in nature preserves. i have to make free to practice developed an understanding of the nature and level of attention above and conscious changes in energy production.

it is not simple, but it's not hard. clean renewable energy sources proved reliable in effect every time i use them. any protests for the difficulty of acting in a conscious and intentional manner regarding energy production is in my my experience if of laziness in this regard for consequences i urge the epa not to accept laziness is the reason for the production of power to be exempted from acting responsibly . the target proposed the clean powerplant are reasonable and achievable. i'm involved in the narrative endeavors for energy use in production in the state. as a surrogate to notify the the epa, efforts are underway for the efficiency of the public and private realm. their strong inches in renewable energy sources despite a growing lack of support from public entities and utilities. is so much interest has taken

matters into her hand with the development of community approaches to financing including an enterprise demand-side response and collaborative solar roots. the benefits of clean renewable energy sources and genuine energy efficiency are many. the silly local electricity grids serve the needs of communities in remote resources of the state. in these areas, power outages are frequent and impact areas as food areas as the pictures, large supplies and medical needs. distributed energy generation is uniquely suited as an ideal power source for many residents in west virginia. in addition, pollution created by a created by a series of impacts the health of rural and urban communities from all stages from extraction to production. the ecosystem and respiratory illness in young and old alike. clean emission free energy source to support the overall wellness of communities throughout west virginia and the rest of the nation to economic benefits as well.

renewable energy and energy efficiency are growing areas of employment surpassing fossil fuels and continuing to increase faster than the national average. i have one of these jobs created by the renewable energy adoption. i work for a company based in west virginia cell and solar installation across the country. i spent my day investigating installation of clean energy for home and business is. this experience has shown me that leadership in adoption is in the hands of the states. they are the leaders in the programs which lead to the adoption by the public as well as utilities. as many models to encourage adoption and as a matter of what they are instituted. a mac thank you. >> chip homestead and mary martin.

and on deck is congressman e. shue. >> hello, jeff homestead test by none behalf of the electric reliability court naming counsel. i am going to go off script, so i will start my time over to make sure i don't use up more time than necessary. having an here most of the morning, i want to make kind of three basic points. first, i do think it is important that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we also need to be honest about what that means. there is no free lunch and it will increase the cost of power and we just need to be honest with each other about that. there certainly will be jobs created in renewable energy sectors and other places, that there will be jobs lost another set or is in most importantly we increase the cost of electricity to everybody.

we need to decide as a society how much we want to pay for that. point number one is we need to be honest. the second day if i believe this proposal is actually -- almost certainly to delay any serious effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the united states. i say that for three reasons. first of all, supreme court has made it clear the epa does have authority to regulate co2 emissions and greenhouse gas emissions are the clean air act. the supreme court is not given epa roving mandate to do whatever it thinks best. in a recent case the supreme court again reminded epa anything it does to reduce greenhouse gases must fit within the statutory structure. the provision is now relying on a very clearly defined to get individual plant doing kluger emission rates. that's the way it's been used for almost 40 years. that's the only way to read the

statute and by adopting this very aggressive and expansive interpretation of the nonpower, the courts are almost certainly late to strike that down. people spending hours upon a time and effort trying to figure out uncommon on this proposal and at the end of the day it is highly unlikely it will ever be implemented. that is bad for a couple reasons. one, the only effective way, the only legally plausible way to deal with this is through new legislation and right now many people who are supportive of this proposal are not engaged in a discussion at all in this proposal as it plays out over several years to the course and elsewhere will affect leann sure there is no legislative discussion about the us will be doing. finally, epa i am afraid has become so distracted by the notion that it can fundamentally change the electricity system in

all 50 states are at least 49 states that it still hasn't done the technical work will be necessary to develop legally sound regulations to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants. unfortunately, there is not that kind of analysis even with building block number one. so what i would encourage epa to do at the very least is to actually do the technical work necessary to determine for different sizes and types of plans what is the carbon emission rate they can reasonably be achieved as opposed to simply assuming everybody can achieve a 6% reduction. we should all be concerned about the reliability risk created by the proposal. it does need to be carefully analyzed before anything like this is adopted. epa's proposal increases the risk or electricity supply will be less reliable.

i think even epa's own analysis suggests rough a third of the generation fleet will be retired between 2020 and 2030. these plants currently provide electricity to sustain our economy and when they are shattered, electricity supply will be depended much more in epa's predictions about energy efficiency and the ability construct and generating sources. also natural gas pipelines and transmission license. as far as i can tell, epa has not made any serious attempt to the other practical and illegal difficulty of getting the approvals necessary to build not only new power plants, but also the transmission lines and pipelines necessary for those plans. obviously they be concerned is without the transmission lines and pipelines in the new generating facilities, and other polar vortex or heatwave mix those people most vulnerable to energy shortages and blackouts.

epa claims that it has looked at the reliability impacts. epa does not expertise in this area and as far as i can tell, there's been no consultation between epa and those who are responsible for reliability, especially those at first. in closing, i i urge everyone in this room to be honest about what it will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hopefully to get on with the hard work that needs to be done to do something productive and congress and even at epa by using authority it has two reduce carbon emissions from individual power plants. thank you. >> good morning. my name is mary martin. i am here on behalf of the u.s. chamber of commerce. chambers the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all five sectors and regions as well as state and local chambers and

industry associations. the chamber and its members review and analyze the epa proposal to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing electric generating units under section 111 d. of the clean air act. the chamber has concerns about the impact of the regulation on the affordability and reliability of electricity in this country. epa's authority to promulgate a regulation on the feasibility and achieve the ability of the regulation. with limited time afforded today, i will focus on a few key concerns the chamber has with the rulemaking process associated with the proposed regulation. first, chamber believes the epa of failing to satisfy statutory obligations under the regulatory flexibility act by not have been in a advocacy review panel for the proposed regulation. taken a myopic view, the epa claims the emissions guidelines establish under clean air act

section 111 d. do not impose any requirements on regulated entities en masse will not have significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. our proposed regulation like the epa claimed power plant is tailor-made for an rsa analysis. as epa admits, electricity prices, one of the largest concerns a small business will go up as a result of the proposal. in fact, energy cost them another talk to business expenses were 35% of small businesses. in addition, there's a possibility small business could be called upon to shoulder some compliance burden. if individual states choose to go beyond to achieve reductions under the proposed old, small businesses from industrial manufacturing facilities in the face of expensive associate with emissions. these are all issues the epa should be exploring and analyzing through the rsa in a small business advocacy review panel. second, chamber has serious concerns about the timeline epa

is imposing in the molecular process based solely upon the magnitude, the comment period extended by 60 days. additionally there should be more time in the process proceeds to understand complexity is that a technical role that goes beyond traditional environmental regulation in dallas into the generation and distribution. the technical workshop for the state in order to address their questions about reality. the stay should be given more time to develop their state implementation plan according to the environmental council, 96% of all delegated environmental programs. but the amount of money by the federal government has been reduced from $5 billion in fiscal year 2010 to $3.6 billion in the school 2013. this namespace are being asked to do more and more with fewer

if your resources when it comes to federal buyer metaprograms that the claim power plant. with the regulated community recognize and appreciate the fact states carry a huge burden shrinking resources. they should make a similar recognition and give states more time like the business community and develop state implementation plan for the proposal. third, epa cost-benefit analysis for the proposed regulation is troublesome to you epa continues to justify regulation with an assist ride not at epa cites as a justification for propagating the regulation that pollutants infinitely reproduced by the primary regulatory requirement. for example, under the compliance approach come epa estimates the benefit in 2020 are expected to be approximately $18 billion while the health benefits of estimated 17 to

$40 billion. the cost benefit analysis is problematic is the part cost of carbon estimates which have not gone through the notice of public comment in peer-reviewed. finally, the epa persistent failure to consider the employment impact of clean-air act regulations like this one. the agency did not use the whole economy model whole economy modeling approach or which would impact a much more accurate picture of the job loss proposal. epa also continues to avoid undertaking unemployment analysis under 321 any of the clean air act which requires continuous review of job losses and shifts in employment due to the implementation of the act. these are a few chambers concerned with the proposed clean power plants. we hope the epa would have fallen up for consideration and suggestions. thank you first time today. >> thank you very much. next panel is congresswoman

issue and dearer sham rainout 10. on deck while we guess that is tom novak and amanda joe devito. i should note for people i mentioned before, we'll take a break at noon. so that gives us almost half an hour. we would hear from a number of other speakers until then and give everyone a break for an hour. congresswoman, good morning. >> good morning. thank you are a match. by name is anna eshoo and i had the privilege of representing california's 18th congressional district, very distinguished district, the home of silicon valley, stanford university and i want to thank you, mr. powers, ms. stevens, mr. bryson for giving people

across our country the opportunity to comment on the claim power plant. and i consider it an honor to testify in support of the proposal today in this very beautiful room in which i don't recall being in before. it is very beautiful. i think no matter where we are, whatever the new services are of the day, that there is a story informing us of the effects of climate change in some way shape or form. communities across our country, communities across the world. we are experiencing the effects daily and at an accelerating rate. in the united states, we are experiencing the hottest year on record, the hottest years plural, not just singular, the plural in the most severe floods, droughts in modern history. my home state of california is

currently facing an unprecedented drought, which is threatening the most productive agricultural valley in the entire world, the san joaquin valley. we also know that why we humans are doing is causing this global change. the total u.s. carbon emissions per year now are 5.4 william times. it takes one's breath away. 100 dirty $6 billion was spent appropriated by the congress, we had to come in at between 2011 and 20 are team for disaster relief. i would consider that a $400 tax per household per year for every american. and it will continue whether one believes in science are not in a house in the senate come you still have to go to the floor and hope for these appropriations because there is

a dead man to help heal and help these communities recover. so i am speaking in support today of the 20 year veteran of the house energy commerce committee of this major initiative that i think can make a positive impact and really create a legacy to change the ominous direction we are headed in. power plants account for 40% of u.s. carbon emissions today. to effectively address climate change, we have to limit the amount of carbon emitted and by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, by 2030, which is in this plan, the power plant has the potential to yield untold technological innovation and i know that my district continues not only to the poise, but to reduce them to improve

public health, to bolster our economic growth and most importantly advance the reversal at these changes that were witness to. the economic case is compelling. the epa's analysis indicates the clean power plant will have climate and health benefit at 55 to 93 billion by 2030. that's a lot of money. that's even a lot of money when you write here amidst the federal government. the cost between 7,000,000,008,000,000,000. but beyond the plans benefits on behavior, the true benefit is to send a signal to investors and the rest of the world so america's clean energy economy is here to stay. their significant job creation that is also within race. today, the solar energy industry employs over 140,000 american with over half the installer

jobs, which cannot be outsourced. so there is a built-in, wonderful benefits of this. this industry experience a 20% job growth in 2013, 10 times the national average. if we put the claim power plant in place, the homegrown job numbers will continue to go up. some argue this plan is government overreach. i hear that daily on a lot of friends. in fact, the supreme court has upheld the authority of the epa to regulate carbon emissions on three separate occasions since 2000 have been. before the plan was even released, some argued it would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs, resulting skyrocketing electricity prices and i think they just left out the sky would cave in. the epa plan will cost modest

increases in electricity prices in the short term and over the long run will result in lower electricity bills for consumers. it certainly will result in lower appropriations. fewer appropriated dollars in supplemental emergency legislation because of the ravages of what the emissions are causing. according to a "washington post," 70% of americans support this plan. we than what consumers are told their electricity bills may go up, they still believe this needs to be addressed. i will pose the face. i have always thought america is the best idea ever born and when we look at the pages of history and see the challenges we have met in centuries that have gone

before, we have always been willing to not only take on the challenge, but to conquer it. i believe we have the science. i believe we have the will of the american people. i think the law is on our side and we have a plan for a future that is needed and should be adopted. thank you for the honor to present to you today. >> thank you very much. >> good morning. my name is s-sierra shannon on the environmental affairs with wabash valley power. wabash valley powers to valley powers a generation interest valley powers a generation interest cooperative that serves 26 locally owned electric distribution cooperative in the northern half of indiana as well as portions of illinois and missouri. those distribution co-ops serve the role portions of 82 counties. on