the plans are due in 20 -- 2016 this is an hour and 45 minutes. >> part plants are the largest sources of carbon pollution, counting for a third of domestic greenhouse gas emissions. proposed cleanhe power plan for existing power plants. this consists of two main parts. they develop these for the goals. ins states flexibility determining how to meet their goals. states will choose what goes

into the plan to how they will yearve the goals by the two thousand 30. -- 2030.d row the second rule would have a personal changes that increase the plant maximum achievable hourly rate of the missions and those that replace component to such an extent that the new haveainants -- components an entirely new comparable facility. hearing is one of four public hearings around the country this week on the two proposed rules.

we have had tremendous interest. i want to thank you for taking time out of your day to join us and share your comments. signed a lot of people up to speak and we want to hear from all of them. i will go through a few ground rules that will help make hearing runs smoothly. make sure you check in at the respiration desk even if you're not then this is the. if you're signed to speak online or at phone, please step out to the registration desk and let them know that you have arrived. if you are a beaker, we were given a letter when you checked in. this is room a. if you're looking for groovy, this will be a good time to switch. all right. i will call of speakers and cares. in your name is called, please

come to the front of the room. to give people a heads up of who is on deck so you can be prepared to know that you are coming up shortly. when i call on you to speak, please take your name. each speaker will have up to five minutes to give comments. we would like you and speak how much you had to speak. this is gabrielle. when the light turns from green yup have onellow, minute left. when it turns a red that is the signal to wrap it up. i would encourage anybody if

they come to the conclusion of their testimony before five minutes, do not get any extra credit for talking more. brevity is always appreciated. do not so bad if your light has not turned red yet. weight at the table until the person next to you has spoken on his testimony. we are here to listen to you. that is the primary focus. we may possibly ask you questions to clarify a comment. you brought a written copy, bring this to the registration desk before you leave. because of the large number of people that signed up to speak we are expected to be very busy and to be sure that we are

fair to everyone. the pana will be here anyway but we want to make sure the people waiting to testify have their chance. if you have additional comments you want to make you can make them in writing. we give just as much consideration if you have more that you would like to say, please submit it. there is plenty of time to get this and after today. there will be comment cards at the registration desk. we are taking them into october 16 of this year. we will put this in the official docket of the proposed rule. these are available at the materials table.

we are scheduled to go to 8:00 p.m. tonight. we schedule a dinner break. or we may take an additional great throughout the day. if you have any questions, please see me staff at the registration desk and .il i urge you to be respectful of everyone here today. we want to run everyone. hold theed that people applause. do not applaud. that takes time. listen quietly. thank you again for taking time to share your comments with. well you started.

the names i have are and how. -- our hal. >> you have the very distinguished honor of being first here at >> i will thank the panel for this opportunity. i am president and chief executive officer of the mining association. this is the national association or domesticating mining industry whose members produce coal and uranium.

we are energy producers and users and developer of technology and other innovation. the carbon dioxide proposal is another step in this administration's policy designed to eliminate electricity and replace it with less reliable sources. remake theattempt to entire grid. this will impair our economic recovery as well as our future road. the dominants source. retail rates are 35% lower. the proposal will displace 27% budget ist generation

in the next 10 years. this will have a jerk lost of the highway jobs. every american loses. thathave their own jobs depend on reliable electricity. based on a complex web of assumptions about future energy demands and dramatic shifts in sources. each of these assumptions rests upon a weak foundation. let me mention a few. increased efficiency. deploymentfrom the of maintenance practices. these are are the routine and taking place as they make them more powerful. and make them less

efficient. epa is soon set natural gas power plants can run at 70%. there is no technical or economic evidence the baking sustain the generation at this high level. it is based on plugging into a model. there is at least a 10% gap from the current natural gas pipeline delivery system. sources, the growth is dependent upon transmission,

.ccess and technical challenges energy efficiency, the of efficiency year over year it lacks any credible basis. over time this declined significantly. area.es not identify any block crumbles, it takes the plan from the implausible to the plausible. they it me the target. it places it into an energy --aight jack get

straitjacket. this is the flexibility to maintain a diverse low-cost mix for the citizens economic and energy security. the value of stability and power supply is missing in action. it provided a warning that this is close to the edge of broken. paidesses and families unprecedented high prices for electricity and sell their home thisng bills spike as applied. what will happen if weeks. another cool winter. performed shows that wholesale power prices will rise

27 to 55% across different regions of the country. this is why the economic impact inspires little confidence. they projected that the recent rules were costs up our capacity to close. to likely be 10 to 12 times more. this is about the proposal that had generated many thoughtful questions and few of any definitive answers about how this will work your there is one inexplicable fact. because it's our real. it also affects the energy supplies and energy structure. thank you.

>> the next speaker and is archie. up next are paul. good morning. i'm glad to be here. we appreciate your having this session around the country. and the jerked her up environment america where the with numbers and supporters across the country. we have been talking about this issue. we been doing the research and trying to understand the impact of client change on our families and on the planet. we have been distributing over a million pieces of literature helping those connected the

dots. landed at having to be evacuated by the national park service. they did a great job. aware. it is not just that it is being flooded, glaciers.

the impacts of hurricane sandy europe and long beach new york which is on the south shore of long island. it was just buying their second car. it real and in hurricane sandy. from my perspective and that of no members, local warning is longer the problem of the distant future or a people far a way. it is here. it is now. it is happening to me and all americans. the headlines every day remind us that we need to do something and do it now. i am so appreciative of the

work. this.no our research shows that the dirtiest 50 plants in the country actually commit more carbon than all but six countries in the world. states are already moving to take action, to clean up or shut down the dirtiest lantz. -- plants. this is projected to save 780 lives 2020. to cut this even further in the region. at the same time, the program has added $2 billion to the inional economy and locked

more than $1 billion in savings on energy bills. from state success stories. states that reduce pollution and the lights have stayed on in more and more are powered by clean, renewable energy. each energy is going farther. states are becoming more efficient. we have renewable standards. this is the single largest that the u.s. has taken to tackle global warming. it is only a step. we have, long way but our work is far from done. cut mobileds to

warming and pollution by 2050. the good news is we are on track. we can make a difference. i hope we can continue to make a difference. we have a lot of work to do. we believe we will get there. thank you so much. >> thank you so much. the next panelist are paul. >> is is a bit of a challenge. if you pull it a little closer everybody will be able to hear it. >> good morning.

the the president of industrialal -- community. companies have $1 trillion in areas. the comments i represent our energy intensive trade exposed. they can peen with companies from around the world whose competitiveness is dependent on the energy. small increases can have relatively significant impact on their competitiveness, ability to create jobs and exports. of thensumes over 81% entire manufacturing sector.

these are the raw materials necessary to produce everything in the u.s. that all consumers use in daily life. responsible, of action to address climate change. the industrial sector or is the only sect sure of the entire u.s. economy whose omissions are less than they were in 1973. climate action by the u.s. that results in increased energy costs can disadvantage for manufacturers and result in job losses. the u.s. cannot go it alone. they expect our actions will have meaningful impact in a world economy that is using more coal and fossil fuels every day. the proposed rule would reduce 730 million metric tons of carbon by 2030. china increased this by this

2010 ton one year from 2011. the emissions rose by 705 million. we are competing with those chinese companies. we are very worried that the electricityncrease and create reliability problems, putting the manufacturing sector at risk, good paying jobs with relatively small global climate impact. the use ofreduce coal-fired generation. it is low cost. gas on a btuith basis. it would increase dependency on natural gas. it is delivered in real time, not stop while.

this demonstrated how overreliance led to reliability issues on gas transportation and deliverability. it would also increase renewable energy. it can be very expensive and is unreliable. this runs 24 hours a.d. -- a day. this leads to electricity curtailments. costs small manufacturers tens of thousands of dollars a day. pis is troublesome during demand. destroy damage if not

the equipment we used to --ufacture and the project product itself. this is a safety issue for our employees. this will be passed on to us. -- we are the ones that are going to pay. these are increasing our electricity crisis. prices byincrease $2.2 billion each year by $27 billion by 2030. electricity the forecast, prices will rise 154% by 2030.

we can expect an average increase of 9.1% per year. this is in contrast to the last 13 years old only saw prices increased 2.8%. this is forecast to rise 164%. this is very significant. manufacturers lose their ability to compete and will be forced to move offshore. that is what happened from 2000 and-2008. we lost 3 million manufacturing jobs.

greenhouse emissions move offshore. as carbonferred to leakage. it damages the domestic economy and employment. a minimum this would need carbon allowances. we request that the epa perform a carbon leakage analysis.

this precedent would require this to reduce greenhouse gas amounts that are above what we manufacturingoof technology, equipment and pratt this is an be required to accept responsibility to achieve higher reductions by reducing emissions outside our fence line. thecustomers are all over world and not just in the u.s.. thank you for considering. >> thank you very much for your testimony. good morning. reverend. is the

i am a sierra club member and a concerned citizen from annapolis. i enqueue for the opportunity to eat in favor of the clean power plant in carbon role. city has been around for over 300 years. is in danger from rising sea levels due to climate change. , is it my voice? ok. it is not me. shall i continue? posted theday noah seanical report and tired

level rise a new flood frequency around the united states. nuisance flooding often results in flooded a summons, road closures and compromise infrastructure. there was annapolis maryland in 925% over ae fifth year time frame. 1957-1963, this was reappointed eight. wasnumber of flood days 3039 point three. oft is approximately one out nine days. in d c, the number of flood days increased from 6.3 229.7 days a year. this flood warning is becoming a

too frequent part of our weather forecasts. we no longer need storms or hurricanes to produce flooding. this is an everyday occurrence. we can attend to protect our most valuable real estate through engineering. water will keep it level. towns on theand trappist -- chesapeake bay would be underwater. the cost of the sea level rise in the value of inundated opportunities should be considered when calculating the of curbingt ratio our carbon emissions. he was going to pay for the farms loss. they are reducing carbon output.

it is reasonable and achievable. many states are are ready there. >> thank you very much. >> good morning. good morning and thank you for the opportunity to share. i am a senior pastor of mount baptist church. some might assume that i have nothing to add to the conversation about climate change and environmental justice. i made it a point to stress my

believe that people of faith have a moral obligation to be the earth, toof care for the environment and protect future generations. by addressing the effects of carbon pollution. the issue of environmental particularly important to me. it is predominately african-american congregations. thatensitive to the fact they suffer disproportionately from environmentally related health issues. undermineange an minority issues. this of lowers income families who are predisposed to hire help risks are also often living to the

closest of the source of carbon pollution which is threatening the health of citizens. not some problem out there. effects us right here. s and other industrial cities and made it more than 450,000 metric tons of carbon pollution in 2011. that is equal to the yearly pollution for more than 95 house and cars. harming our economy. these are battling chronic illnesses.

they are widows and widowers who have lost loved ones due to industrially produced respiratory diseases. these are young people. we aren't yet been a clear mandate to care for widows, orphans, the elderly and those distressed. i have pledge my support to the clean power plant. it attempts to correct for the abuses of former generations so , especially our children can live and grow in a cleaner and safer world and the world we are in now.

-- world than the one we are leaving them with weird this is sensible policy that provides states the flexibility they need to develop customized plans that will keep our energy affordable why ensuring our children have clean air to breathe. i and the campaign director with environment virginia. speaking on behalf of myself and the 25,000 members across the commonwealth that we represent. virginia, the consequences of global warming are clear and present.

this pointed to the impact we are art he ceiling. there were storm surges that put our coastal communities at rest. hampton road is the second most vulnerable region. the u.s. military and local residents can tell you. increased temperatures mean more unhealthy air days. this is very important to me. scientists are clear that unless thect now to reduce pollution that is fueling global things -- warming can't

only get worse for our children and we will not be able to turn back. we believe this is an ordinance the and support finalization of the strongest possible plan to cut carbon pollution. power plants are the largest single source of u.s. carbon pollution. while we must move quickly to eliminate carbon from all sections, powerplant are our best opportunity. virginia's power plants contribute to 34.4% of our state carbon allusion and it's woken up by 31%. environment virginia applauds the epa for responding with the urgent need to protect public health and our children's future by rain in carbon pollution. over 150,000 public comments have been supported.

over 60 local and state local officials have also endorsed the climate action plan and the proposal. shows opinion polling that a majority support the epa taking action on climate and to limit carbon pollution. people are behind you. given the scope of the problem and the urgent need to ask, we can do better by harnessing clean energy. this has been installed by

homeowners and colleges, militaries and others. if our state offshore wind energy area were to be fully developed week of power over 700 houston homes just from the wind willing to coast of virginia beach we can build a future where all of our energy comes from the wind that comes off the coast. making our homes and building can powernt that we the entire building and have more energy produced than we actually need to use. that americanse

deserve. thank you very much for allowing us here to speak today. >> on deck behind william r prince and iv. -- and ivy. >> the morning. i represent the state of west virginia. thank you for having me here today. i know you're going to have a long couple of days. i'm here to express my strong opposition to the greenhouse gas rules. with this unprecedented rule, the epa has gone far beyond

this. the very framework is built around shifting the country away from coal. they have no business picking winners in losers. that is what this does. i would like to share what this come to westou had virginia. you would have seen and heard this for yourself. the epa has held 11 public sessions. 10 one has been in the states that rely on this for electrical generations. come to west virginia you would have heard from coal mining companies that depend on this to feed their families. yet heard from people who do not work in the mines that are

strictly relying to keep their companies afloat, emi cap heard from christian. it doesn't cease to do a lot of work. you send a message to that part of the country that argues and experiences do not matter. this does party losing 5 million: one in jobs. many more jobs are at risk because of this agency and regulatory efforts that are going far beyond what congress

intended. reliese of west virginia 95% of the electricity generated by coal. we will be one of the biggest losers. you can increase by 2020. this will cause even more to be taken off-line. europeanthis with the carbon regulations which 55% betweenices by 2005 in 2013. this would be bad for the american economy. u.s. households pay have as much for electricity than households in the european union. intensive the energy nature and manufacturing, low cost american jobs help keep jobs in the u.s..

powerplant workers are not the only workers under this proposed rule. this will send more american manufacturing jobs overseas. not one single coal plan meets the average standard of the 1600 pounds per megawatt hours that would be imposed. i recognize that not every coal plant with close. it would deftly mean the closure of a number of units that would be mandatory. this benefits from a diverse energy mix. in january and february of this year 92% has seen an increased demand for energy.

this is operating 89% of the capacity that next year will be shut down due to the other epa regulations. i have offer bipartisan resolution. this was from the economic survival. i will continue to lead efforts le.help stop this rura i promised you that the state and its people will continue. not westlvania is virginia.

>> i am the executive jerked her the national association of clean air agencies. section 111 d is our member agencies with the ultimate and submit the state plans. to have the opportunity to testify this morning and provide initial reaction to the proposal. if this is not reflect the views of all agencies. developn its effort to

the role and conduct some early outreach. this developed in symbols and submitted them to the agency in august of 2013. i have a copy of my principles attached to my testimony. the extensive level of epa staff efforts that went into developing the proposed plan. we appreciate that epa has included much of what it has recommended. some generalou examples by highlighting features of the proposal that are consistent. in terms of process, epa deserves credit for its outreach effort which was truly unprecedented in duration in scope.

this was inclusive of key interest and expertise from others from state energy officials. these conversations remain ongoing. they listen very carefully to what was said. reflect state circumstances. goals based on state and regional fact yours. it addresses this in several ways.

the proposal suggests a wide latitude to identify the overall compliance strategy. it proposal offers a one-year fornsion for allstate multistate approach. this is highlighted almost a year before the proposal was released. it must also inform his final role. much of the analysis so far has focused on the calculation of individual state goals. some states have expressed

concerns that due to the proposed targets the compliance flexibility is limited. this was given the state legislatures. finally, many states are concerned that it is not adequately reward states that take early action. we encourage epa to work with the individual state to address each of these issues in the final role. the significant resources will need to powerplant a success. it must be addressed.

he asked for a nearly increase. it supports the additional funding but cautions against those coming at the expense for local air agency core programs. we urge epa to build on the strong pre-proposal dialogue to associate the planning -- to the saute the planning. as we move further, we will continue to examine the proposed role and suggest changes to approve it. thank you for the opportunity testify. >> good morning.

>> imgs senior vice president for government relations at peabody energy. this enables more people to live longer and live better. it drives the lowest u.s. electricity costs for any major fuel. profoundly disagrees with the approach on carbon under the clean air act. we are opposed to this proposal that would punish electricity consumers. >> excuse me. could you get a bit closer to the microphone? >> yes. i am sorry. profound a

disagreement under the clean air act. dutch opposed to this proposal. benefit. material this proposal must be withdrawn. access to clean and affordable energy is essential at a time when one hundred 15 million americans qualify for energy assistance and 48 million live poverty. lastly the washington post put a face on this very real daily struggle. it brought to life the story of a single mother of five children in colorado struggling to pay their bills. there is no money. when there is no money you cannot feed us. much or how deep they ration come they cannot get ahead of

rising costs. the increase in not just the cost is a true till to the shutdown of coal plants and an aggressive transition to renewables. this is commonplace in california, where this energy models. california has exacerbated energy inequality and it is of theread in the areas state away from the coast. it has turned away business based on high renewable mandates and energy taxes. hasciency in california been achieved by demand distraction with large many factoring clean the states. california prices are 40% higher than the u.s. average. 700,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2000. if california is the future it does not work. the proposal is symbolic only and would have no significant

theory.under climate this would result in 120 changes. isespread opposition evident. in mid july, the house appropriations committee passed a spending bill inhibiting them from using funds for carbon standards. in march they passed the mansion to oppose this rural. over 20 states pass resolutions stating the omissions can only deregulated on a plant by plant basis inside the fence, not the

systemwide state approach. they are activating a partnership. they propose a better path that calls for investing in efficiency improvements in more and more nations are pushing back against flawed carbon policy. they feel the symmetrically and overseas. the would rather break

promised benefits economy. when these are understood by the american oh, and they will be, as actions will be reject it policy prescriptions that are adverse to human and welfare, the opposite of the epa mandate under the clean air act. >> thank you. i am the chair of the virginia chapter of the sierra club. apologize. from our point of view the epa's hadn powerplant proposal local warming. it argued change the conversation in virginia. keeps energy chief.

that will not fly anymore. this is carbon. we can meet the carbon budget you have perp closed and more. we have the potential to go way beyond what is proposed. as the recent risky business report warns, extremely is going to have an extreme effect on our economy and lives. like the rest of the southeast, virginia has hot summers that make outdoor activities difficult during the worst summer he way. we will have long stretches of or people in the south these cannot be out of doors in the middle of the day. not as an it is too unpleasant but it is life threatening to

work outside. lucky ones are those with air-conditioned homes and cars and offices. even they will find it a drag not to be able to send the children outside to play. there are a lot of people who have to be outside. farmworkers, road crews, day laborers, landscape workers, refers, sanitation workers, and many others. are critical that to our economy. there is a little say over the working conditions. this is a threat to their livelihood, their health, and conceivably their lives. this is a threat to virginia is in a power outage. if this is a place that is uninhabitable without air conditioning, what happens when the air-conditioning goes out? becomes aer storm

potential health crisis especially for the elderly and poor. virginia policymakers and local visuals have to prepare for these effects of our fossil fuel addition. there has been hoping that it will not happen. this is our future. this is what we have to play and for -- this is what we have to plan for. thank you. >> thank you very much to both of you. on deck behind them are only numb off to in georgia murray -- lema moffit >> good morning.

i'm congresswoman linda sanchez, and i probably represent california during think you for the opportunity to testify about the importance of the epa's clean power plan. 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, environmentalist and mother, i'm here to advocate on behalf of the full implication of the clean power plan. i understand the urgency associated with combating the sources of pollution that are contributing to climate change and posing serious health risks to our general population. as a representative of a district with a large latino and asian-american population, why constituents stand to lose the most if we fail to implement the planned carbon reduction guidelines. 31% of latinos live within 30 miles of a power plant.

165% more likely to live in counties with unhealthy levels of particulate matter pollution. thesensequences of environmental conditions are evident in the high rates of asthma among the latino community. over three .6 million latinos in the u.s. suffer from asthma. mother, these numbers are unacceptable and they underscore 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 emissions and they produce one third of all domestic greenhouse emission. despite these statistics, carbon pollution from power plants is not to get related. -- regulated.

i am here to declare that we can no longer afford to wait to act on climate change. i want a safe and secure future for my son and for the constituents i represent. i think millions of parents across the country would agree with me. as government officials, we are tasked with promoting the well-being of our citizens. the clean power plan is a serious step towards protecting americans from the consequences of climate change. it clearly outlines the changes that must be made to limit the health and economic costs associated with carbon pollution. if implemented, the clean power plan would help cut dilution by 55 billionult in dollars in health and climate benefits. know this change is possible

because my home state of california has already implemented many of the guidelines proposed by the epa, and the facts speak for themselves. california has the fourth lowest carbon emissions in the nation, and our electric bills are 25% below average. has been erroneous prior testimony. california's electric bills are 25% below average. the benefits are significant, but the costs of not acting are much greater. on behalf of our country, my constituents, and a 28 million hispanics living in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone, i urge you to fully implement the clean power plan. thank you for allowing me to testify today. >> thank you very much. >> good morning. it is wonderful to be with all of you. thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of the clean power plan.

it is an honor to be sitting here with congresswoman sanchez, who i am a big fan of. the nation's largest wildlife conservation with 4 million supporters, the national wildlife federation is here today because of our nations treasured wildlife outdoor heritage. i'm here to speak for wildlife. any hunter, birder or gardner, farmer or forrester, hiker or camper -- they will tell you that things are changing. from wildfires in the west, droughts in the southeastern california, extreme storms along the eastern seaboard, the evidence of climate impact are all around us and occurring right now. the stories of destroyed habitat and destroyed communities from extreme storms becoming all too

wildlife are struggling. -- familiar. wildlife are struggling. moose for minnesota and maine are seeing record drops in their population due to exploding take populations. -- tick populations. shorebirds are experiencing rapid loss of feeding, forging and coastal habitat. the wetland breeding grounds of our nation cost most treasured iserfall -- water fowl drying up. insufficient action threatens our multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation and tourism economy. sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts help conserve and protect wild places. while the national wildlife federation is working diligently with wildlife across the country to help make wildlife habitat

and local communities more resilient, science tells us we need to rapidly curb industrial pollution are many species simply will not be able to adapt. we need to make sure we're doing everything we can to reduce the pollution fueling climate change. we are here today to applaud the long overdue step of reining in carbon pollution from the nation's largest existing source, power plants. the proposed standard is a strong start. it is a uniquely american solution. it establishes clear standards while providing states the flexibility and tools to achieve the standards in the way that makes the most sense to them. it builds across work -- upon work across the nation.

is very clear that epa listen closely to the states and stakeholders development as planned. entiregrateful to the office for putting this proposal together. we believe the power plants should be strengthened to increase the wildlife clean energy sources. we believe this can be done, with far ranging benefits to wildlife. this rule will also help reduce pollution from other criteria pollutants that have made pristine lakes lifeless due to acid rain, made fish dangerous to eat because of mercury, the smog that makes air unhealthy for all of us to breathe, including wildlife. as secretarys role of national resources in delaware, i had the privilege of to create ale regional program for reducing carbon emissions. underscores the

potential for forward thinking, ambitious emission reduction programs to achieve meaningful results. statesossible when scored an eight regionally, that we can reduce carbon pollution in a way that reduces energy bills, create construction got our case, reducing emissions by more than 40% across the nine states. this is actual, tangible proof on the ground. 's clean power plan has key elements that could yield the benefit we observed throughout the limitation of reggie. there are two areas i would like to highlight for potential strengthening. the most effective way to reduce carbon emission is through energy efficiency. i thought firsthand that massive potential and the economic opportunities to invest in

energy efficiency. the proposed rule could be strengthened, and they should strive to replicate the proven successes. secondly, epa should adjust the renewable energy goes assumption to more accurately reflect the potential in states and regions. or soontes have already meet the level of renewable energy regeneration that epa assumed they would not have met until 2020. technology, like distributed solar and offshore wind, are presented in the current are notions -- presented in the current calculations. through these two actions, epa's plan can reduce overall energy bills. the clean power plan represents real progress, not only for america is finished, wildlife and birds, but nature lovers across the country, and future generations who will enjoy

america's great national treasures, including my three-year-old daughter. on behalf of our supporters, including the 80,000 members of the national wildlife federation have already submitted comments, we look forward to working with all of you to achieve the new standards and protect wildlife across the nation. --the next speakers [listing names] >> good morning. try and keep us on time. thank you for this opportunity to comment this morning. i am the manager for federal policy for the national wildlife federation. i will try not to repeat too

much of what my boss just said. the national wildlife federation is the country's oldest and largest conservation organization. has affiliate organizations in almost every state across the country committed to protecting wildlife. to that end, our affiliate organizations are present at all hearings happened this week. -- happening this week. arkansas,des texas, virginia, north carolina, maine, montana, and more. they has seen the devastating impact that climate change is having on wildlife that they love. our members and affiliate partners also understand the clean power plan represents an unparalleled opportunity to truly foster the local, renewable solution to climate change that our country has been waiting for for far too long. by including renewable energy sources, your agency has

potentially unleashed -- potentially open the floodgates of american ingenuity to tackle climate change head on, to build state-based partnerships that harness the pollution free resources of the sun and wind, to invest in our communities and grow the manufacturing base and reinvigorate american leadership in the clean energy economy up tomorrow. we're here today to demonstrate our support and ask you to lean into this challenge. the standard released june 2 is a strong start, but it can be even stronger. would like to share a few key technical recommendations we will expand upon in our comments. overall, the standard can and should be stronger. analysis indicated that reductions on the order of 40% below 2005 levels in 2020 can be achieved a reasonable cost great -- cost.

energy efficiency is the most cost effective and efficient way to reduce our emissions quickly. many state programs have successfully demonstrated the potential for efficiency to quickly and affordably reduce admissions. cost-effective energy efficiency can be achieved even more quickly than assumed in setting the state standard. wildlife friendly renewable energy has been growing at an astonishing rate. in 2012, wind and solar power were two of the fastest-growing electric generation technologies in the u.s. solar capacity grew more than 83% from the previous year. your agency included these resources in setting the state standards. the availability and quantity of opportunities we assumed was too low. low,tting standards too the standard currently leaves achievable reductions on the table.

the epa should analyze resource availability and costs on a state and regional basis, rather than limiting the assessment to current renewable portfolio standards in states and regions, and remove artificial growth constraints on renewable energy. we hope you will consider the full potential of renewable resources, including offshore wind power and distributed solar power we are not including. in establishing each state's target, your agency must account for plans and anticipated fossil fuel retirements. epa must ensure that state targets actually drive emissions reduction were not going to occur anyway. epa must address lifecycle greenhouse emissions for natural .as nws is currently working with our affiliates across the country in many states, like pennsylvania and colorado, to encourage epa to move forward

with separate regulations to ensure that unchecked methane pollution does not throw the climate benefits of a switch to natural gas. we look forward to working with you to strengthen, finalize and implement this standard. thank you for taking this opportunity. young people get this issue. we are looking forward to finishing the standard with you. >> good morning. the appalachian mountain club's mission is to promote the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forest, and waters and trails of the appalachian region. have more than 100,000 members and supporters. wean outdoor constituency, are concerned about the current impact in increasing threats of climate change. our members value consistent and in winter for

cross-country skiing, as do the many small and big businesses that rely on winter recreation. we are concerned about the threats to help the air and the degradation of air quality in a warmer world, and the increasing number of severe storms that wreak havoc on our landscape and infrastructure and require significant trail maintenance for safe and enjoyable hiking. we have evidence of change happening today just outside my office in new hampshire. i brought a few graphics. trend ofs the time total snowfall from new hampshire over time since the 1930's. 67 inches less snowfall in total on average. we are seeing snow leaving 15 days earlier on average. we are seeing temperature trends similar to what is seen across the region and the globe, and we are also seeing that increase as we move through time.

it is happening now. strongly support the epa's authority to regulate greenhouse gases, and believe that it is appropriate and essential to regulate these air pollutants for existing power plants under section 111-d. the clean air act requires that a mission reductions is established in setting up the 111-d standards. we believe the epa has invited an approach that considers costs and environmental targets. epa has called for states to submit in forcible plans -- in forcible -- enforceable plans. many northeast states have found

success in reducing carbon emissions with the regional greenhouse gas initiative, and we applaud epa's inclusion. the recently strengthened program has locked in significant reductions in greenhouse gases from the power sector. there are minor adjustments that should be made with the program to ensure that epa targets are met, and we will detail those in the future. a proven success, and we look forward to encouraging other states to join the program to reduce greenhouse gas pollution to meet the epa requirements. we believe a focus on conservation should be the priority of any plan to reduce the impacts of climate change. burn less not only fossil fuels, but maintain a balanced approach to energy development that includes pristine places that are set aside for public use. we need to reduce the overall demand for energy.

i did want to highlight some initial concerns with the proposed rule, targets and assumptions around energy efficiency. epa should not use formulas for state targets that assume less generation and energy efficiency savings in 2030 than the state has already achieved today. epa should encourage a faster rate of energy efficiency and renewable energy expansion within states and review the assumptions about the compliance cost of energy oficiency in the context math-based options. energy efficiency has been proven to be more in cost compliance within the program, and must be a core component in our transition to a clean energy economy. thank you for this opportunity to comment. to amc looks forward

submitting more comments before the public comment period closes in october. >> thank you very much. next speakers are hannah and jeff. after that, governor markel and greg dotson. we are taking written comments until october 16. we encourage people to elaborate on an oral statement. if you prefer to submit a written statement instead of oral, the written statement gets carefully read. hannah? >> thank you. we are so proud to be in this room. charlottesville, virginia. today i am representing appalachian voices, a regional, environmental nonprofit working with partner groups around the southeast.

appalachian voices, an organization dedicated to speaking up for the mountain region, and those most impacted by extreme call mining methods -- coal mining methods. having grown up in richmond and see my younger sister suffer from asthma, i'm proud to be working to cut carbon emissions in the region, along with our partner groups, through our programs to grow local efficiency and clean energy economy throughout the southeast. regional supporters of energy efficiency, along with public health and environmental advocates, are watching closely to see how epa guidelines influence the southeast. we have seen a swell of support from our region for a strong lead on carbon dioxide pollution. folks across the political spectrum have been making the connection between global warming and our energy choices. especially when it comes to sea level rising, eastern virginia.

the impacts of our increasingly warming planet have been covered by the sierra club. we hear from home gardeners and large-scale growers alike in our region that seasons have changed and continue to shift, and also from folks who like the outdoors, that ticks have been increasing really badly. to wrap up, our region will benefit from the opportunities that this rule signals and the way it will advance carbon free energy. a recent study from researchers at carnegie melon university found that wind and solar achieve greater health benefits because they were replaced. "a winter in west virginia -- while many states like good

policies, diminishing coal investment is a clear trend. in july, the world bank announced it will and the financing of coal plants. papern sachs issued a entitled, the window for thermal-coal investment is changing. we have seen the signs. it is our hope it will translate into a final role that drives reductions in wasted energy throughout our region. region has seen coal jobs decline already. there is a promising potential. especially through initiatives like promises zones. the administration has shown a commitment to justice in our region. on behalf of our supporters who are awaiting a strong final version of the rule, thank you for your leadership and responsible approach to getting our nation back on track to climate stability. thank you. i'm going to exercise chair

prerogative. we every arrange the next panel ever so slightly. senator merkley needs to leave shortly. after this panel, the next panel will be governor markel and senator merkley. greg dotson, i ask your indulgence. you and fred krupp will be the panel after that. >> thank you for this opportunity to speak out. i will try not to repeat anything my boss said. i was born and raised in virginia in the heart of new river valley. my comments today marked the approaching end of my summer internship with appalachian voices. it is fitting that i will end my internship where i began.

the summer has culminated, weaving together familiar lessons and foreign concepts. i am here today to present the most important lesson of all, their strength in numbers and in diverse city. over 1220llected individual comment cards in support of a clean powerplant. stretching across all of virginia and beyond, these individuals realize the opportunity to build their own state's economy due to the commonsense approach of the administration's plan. small business owners have also responded to cutting carbon pollution. americanlling from the sustainable business council indicates a clear majority of small business owners support government regulations to curb illusion from power plants. 51 small-business owners signed comment cards and sided with appalachian voices in support of climate action. they must act.

ourselves the tough questions. will all our efforts be worth it? i think so. and so did 1220 individuals and small business owners. gives ussal flexibility. we are advocating for a cleaner future. if implemented poorly, much of our work will be for naught. we are prepared to keep fighting and implore the epa to address the risks associated with climate change. we are creating a unique space to think critically of the challenges that come. thank you.

>> thank you both. next panel is governor markel. i think i was posted say senator markey. senator markey, right? are two -- senator, you're welcome to -- is there a senator merkley? is that correct? i'm sorry. senator merkley, you were here first. you are next. and then senator markey, you will be next. good to see you. thank you for the opportunity to testify on the importance of the clean powerplant. epa for taking this historic step to tackle carbon pollution. we have all heard the argument

from skeptics that the clean power plan is just another job killing regulation. let's get the facts straight. carbon pollution is waging a direct assault on rural america. it is a direct assault on jobs in america. if we do nothing, there will be severe economic disruption. in that context, the clean plan isnt -- power 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 oregon, where our farming, fishing, and forest industries are already seeing the effects of carbon pollution. let me start with farming. farming is crucial to oregon's rural economy. many family farmers and ranchers rely on snowmelt melt to provide irrigation water in the spring. theave seen a 20% drop in

snowpack in the cascades since 1950. with warmer temperatures and less water, farmers have seen significant problems regarding the supply of water for their growing season. precipitation patterns are becoming increasingly irregular. farmers and ranchers in the klamath basin of oregon have been hammered by major droughts in 2001, 2010, 2013, and they are struggling to stay afloat. if you talk to these farmers and ranchers throughout oregon, you will hear that the impact of the changing climate is not some distant threat. it is a threat and a reality right now. or turn to phishing. fishing is another critical industry that is endangered from

the assault ofby carbon pollution. we have warmer and smaller and in thehe spring summer, making it harder on our trout and certainly more difficult for our salmon and steelhead. our oyster farmers are being impacted by ocean acidification. greater carbon dioxide in the air absorbed by the ocean results in more acidity. isn carbon dioxide -- absorbed and becomes carbonic acid. this increased acidity is preventing young oysters from forming shells, causing mortalities at oyster hatcheries. babyat is a challenge for oysters, what else is going on in the ocean, food chain or chain of life that we should be deeply concerned about? talking to fishermen and oyster farmers in oregon, you will hear

the climate change and carbon pollution is not some distant threat. it is happening now. let's turn to forests. carbon pollution is compounding threats to oregon's forests. warmer conditions put our forests under greater stress, making them more prone to wildfires and infestations. look no further than the wildfires burning in oregon today to see how bad this problem is. at this moment, we have seven large fires burning in oregon which consumed almost half a million acres, and there are many months to go in the fire season. the fire season has grown from five months to seven months since the 1970's. beetlen pine infestations are turning previously green forests into red landscapes of dead trees,

known as the red zone. these infestations continue to spread across the northwest. combined with decades of hazardous fuels building up in our forests, climate change is making a bad problem worse. if you talk to forrester's in oregon, you will hear that climate change is not some distant threat. it is happening right now. we can look at any one of these impacts as an anomaly. but when you step back and look at the full picture, the trends, the science is undeniable. pollution is assaulting our rural resources, and the impact is growing. our farming, fishing and forrester he matter -- forestry matter. protected.o be the clean powerplant will not only save jobs in those sectors, it will invest in hundreds of thousands of jobs in the clean energy economy.

the solar and energy industry alone implies -- employs twice as many people as the coal mining industry. if anything, we should think seriously about strengthening key tool power plan, a to reduce the job killing impacts of carbon pollution. it is a catalyst to help grow a thriving new clean energy economy that will provide even more jobs and a healthier planet. said, whatoreau once good is a home if you don't have a tolerable planet to put it on? thank you. >> could i remind all speakers to please state your name for the transcriber when we start. governor? >> good morning. my name is jack markel. i'm the governor of delaware. i'm testifying in support of the clean power plan not because of

what we think might be possible with this policy change, but because we know what this plan can do for the nation. proposal to address climate change -- we solve this we see all this happening. we shifted from one of the third is energy mixes in the nation to one of the cleanest. we have decreased emissions by a greater percentage than any other state while creating jobs at the same time. we have done so with the same approach the president proposes for the country. we shut down or fuel switched nine out of our 10 dirtiest power plants while the remaining units installed hundreds of millions of dollars in pollution and crawls. we have increased deployment of solar technology 30 times since 2008.

millionspurred 100 dollars in efficiency upgrades and worked with states throughout the region to cut carbon pollution. the regional greenhouse gas emission has used a market-based system to help reduce carbon-based pollution from power plants in our states by more than 40% since 2005. the epa's plan lets states use solutions that were best for us individually to reduce dirty admissions, recognizing the power plants produce more of these emissions than any other source in the country. as one example of what our strategy has meant for delaware, i visited a site in dover where hundreds of people were working to build a natural gas power generating --alpine has made it a priority. they do it because they care about the environment e-reader

they also do it because it's good for their bottom line. -- the cost of energy that will reduce energy bills while making our state more attractive to manufacturers. across the country, it is projected that the clean power plan would shrink electricity bills by 8% by increasing efficiency and reducing demand. this goomic benefits of far beyond the impact on individual energy companies or on consumer's bills. on thet last month economic risks of climate change illustrate the widespread effects, including damage to the agriculture and energy sectors as well as to coastal communities, public health and labor productivity. in delaware, we have seen how rising sea levels and other extreme weather conditions put families and businesses at risk. like senator merkley was talking about in his state, our largest industry faces severe conditions

that harm crops. climate change could literally put much of delaware underwater. all states own challenges. we governors don't have the luxury of pretending climate change is not causing real damage. we are on the frontline of hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and other natural disasters. we see the property that is interested and the cost of addressing the damage after the fact. we live with the consequences of inaction. and please the epa has issued this new rule, and i look forward to its invitation. >> -- implementation. dawson and and then fred krups. -- greg dotson and then fred

krupp. there are plenty of seats here in the middle or behind me if you would prefer to sit and stand. senator markey, good morning. i am senator ed markey from massachusetts, and i'm here today to stand with america's families who want clean air, safe water, and a stable climate. the planet is running a fever. there are no emergency room's for planets read america must lead. -- planets. to unleash alead clean energy revolution. when america sets strong environmental safeguards and our innovative spirit rises to the challenge, millions of jobs are created rate -- created. our air is cleaner, our water is safer. that has not stopped critics from attacking these proposed rules and the epa.

congress have said these rules would be catastrophic. the house speaker called them nuts. one even accused epa of acting like terrorists. if the critics of climate action spent more time believing in american innovation and less time attacking climate science, i believe our economy, our environment and our planet would all be better off. in my home state of massachusetts, we have been reducing carbon pollution for the results are tremendous. the proposed epa rule says america should reduce our carbon emissions from coal plants by 30% by 2030. massachusetts, as part of the regional agreement to cut emissions, has already reduced 40% by 2000 roughly

five levels. massachusetts has moved aggressively to natural gas, renewables, and energy efficiency. we are a small, densely populated state. no more for the perfect storm perfectly sunny days. last year massachusetts ranked fourth in the nation in solar deployment. we have been the number one state in the nation for energy efficiency for three years in a row. we will soon be breaking ground on the first offshore wind farm in our country's history. what were the effects from all of these carbon cutting, clean energy actions? has outpacedt rate the national average every single month except three since

the 2008 financial crash. we employ 80,000 people in clean energy in massachusetts. that number is expected to grow working oneople clean energy in massachusetts by the end of this year. aroundectricity rates the united states have climbed 13% over the past eight years, they have actually declined by over thatachusetts time that we have been reducing our greenhouse gases. years, oursame massachusetts economy expanded by 23% on nearly $80 billion, and the amount of electricity we consume actually declined. we havechusetts, radically slashed our carbon emissions. we have created good 21st-century jobs.

we have reduced the amount of electricity we consume, and we pay less for electricity. massachusetts has shown that reducing carbon pollution can be a money saver, and a jobs creator. i think administrator mccarthy and the epa staff for crafting a commonsense rule that will allow each state to find the best way forward to make carbon pollution reductions in their states. as the epa works to finalize the rule during the coming year, i encourage the agency to look closely at the ability of energy efficiency and renewable energy to drive further pollution reductions. the reality of climate change is already here. globally, june was the hottest going back to 1880, the warmest june ever poor -- ever.

the planet's temperature has been above the 20th century average current if you're 29 years old or younger, you have never known a month without hotter than average temperatures. storms aree rising, getting stronger, the droughts longer, heat waves more intense. in may i had the honor to discuss climate change with pope francis and his top advisers in the vatican. he understands that regardless of faith or party, we are all called to respond to this personal and planetary challenge. these epa rules will allow the u.s. to engage in clean energy job creation that will benefit all of creation. global warming is a moral issue. it is a security issue. it is an economic issue. it is the challenge of our time. we must rise to meet it. thank you. next, ukraine's foreign

minister talking about the situation in his country. then a house hearing on north korea. live at 2:30, speeches by the candidates running for the u.s. senate seat in kentucky. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] >> on tuesday, ukraine's foreign -- shortly after his remarks, president obama announced expanded sanctions against russia. this is about an hour. >> it is indeed a pleasure to spay today at the atlantic today at theeak atlantic council. proof ofoday a real

transatlantic partnership and transatlantic solidarity. we are talking about the whole standing by us, standing behind us. made todaydecision by the european union about the next wave of sanctions. we don't need sanctions for the sake of sanctions. but it's about the world we live in. the world where we have rules, where we have commitments, where we have legally binding commitments. about how to get back to

the status quo, how to get back to the world where we have reliable and predictable people, bound by commitments and moral ground. because of that, we need solidarity more than ever. meeting.from every yesterday and today, we got solidarity in the eu. [indiscernible] why are we talking about and can't proceed to real solidarity and real engagement?

unfortunately, too late, and after a number of tragic events like shooting down the plane of malaysian airlines by russian-backed terrorists. what is going on really now? i believe that the world faces now the worst security situation since the cuban missile crisis of 1962. it is indeed about our understanding of the situation. it is about de-escalation, but about understanding the implications for the future. we are still under attack in ukraine.

than ever, the terrorist forces still occupy considerable part of the region, although we have been advancing quite considerably. it is a bout a number of russian citizens, mainly russian who have links to russian special forces, who lead the terrorists. who not about the people represent donetsk. it's about propaganda machine. population into believing that splitting is with ukraine would mean a cleaned late -- clean slate in life.

building up criminal gangs, and seduce others. the intimidate those who refuse to obey. they have everything. they have the most modern fire guns. now they can rely on sophisticated systems that can shoot down international airplanes. you can imagine, there is probably still the possibility of the kalashnikov on the market. how can you teach the terrorists

? forces areed increasingly more involved in fighting. ofhad a number of cases shelling our troops. intruding in ukrainian airspace, using all kinds of systems. it is a [indiscernible] kind of situation. and at unfair cost. because we find for truth and we arecy, because

anished, because we have clear idea what we need in ukraine. we need and we have clear commitment here. united, democratic, and european ukraine. [indiscernible] not as a symbol which is important for our european integration, but as a framework for future, for european-oriented reforms. to carry outlt important reforms. we are ready to pay this price the road, the end of it is about us. it is about europe.

about ukraine. with our european history, with , and ourean mentality location to europe. unfortunately, not everyone seems to be supporting that paradigm. because of that, we still have turmoil. turmoil not because we have any sort of internal conflict here. we are ready to talk to real who areto our people probably under russian propaganda. we are ready to embrace any sort to give more

toitical and economic power regions, districts, and communities. we are ready to show that it is to returnmon interest to normal life. it all started not only in donetsk. the annexation of ukraine seems to be forgotten for many. crimea was ukrainian, is ukrainian, and will be ukrainian in the future.

we will never stop fighting for the crimea as part of the ukrainian territory. [indiscernible] have a lot of russian speaking people in the crimea who do believe it is an act of aggression. the mood has been changing in the crimea. the mood has been changing and donetsk -- in donetsk and lugansk. ago, under months russian propaganda, the people aboutxtremely cautious embracing their ideas of freedom and democracy. decentralization,

they have already introduced people more freedom but also more responsibility. to hate therted terrorists. the mood in crimea has been changing considerably. people understand it is a dead end. of course, it's about our commitment. it's also about commitment of the whole international community. independence, its and its commitment to assist and help. we feel this commitment exactly right now. , it took also such

tragic cases as shooting down the malaysian airlines airplane. looking around the globe from the beginning and how to negotiate full and unrestricted access to the site on how to carry out fully transparent and effective investigation. team, not only from , but alsoon authority the best international team. we invited dutch representatives, malaysian , our friends and partners from the u.s., switzerland, germany to join the investigation.

[indiscernible] it will provide for fully transparent and open investigation. it is not about barbarians. it involves the people who came to the crash site. about the people, about the terrorists who came to , dragging the bodies without any sign of human dignity. from the beginning, we proclaimed universal cease-fire for the whole 40 kilometers radius area at the crash site in

order not just to recover all alles, but also to recover to give belongings these personal belongings to their loved ones and friends. tribute toour last the people died in this tragedy. the terrorists have been trying to hinder the investigation. although we have seen the debris of the airplane hit by shrapnel. no way how they're going to wipe out any evidence and any trace of evidence. truth, and wehe

will take the culprits to their responsibility. priority from top future. for the nearest we are not for a military solution. it is not about military offensive. it is about peace. it is about clear commitment to peace. it is about a presidential peace plan. ground,lation on the humanitarian assistance. .lso restoration disruptive water pipelines, electricity.