EPA regulations to increase natural gas prices 150 percent | The Daily Caller

EPA regulations to increase natural gas prices 150 percent | The Daily Caller







Why, seriously.  Why?

EIA says that “low natural gas prices and slower growth of electricity demand” have stifled coal’s competitiveness as a power source. But EIA also points out that many coal plants “must comply with requirements of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) and other environmental regulations.”

MATS is one of the costliest EPA regulations ever crafted, costing about $10.2 billion annually. The rule aims to lower mercury emissions and other pollutants from coal plants, but the regulation is resulting in the shuttering of hundreds of coal plants across the country.

EIA says that 50 gigawatts, or 16 percent, of the U.S. coal fleet is set to be taken offline by 2020 — however, 90 percent of these shutdowns will occur before 2016 when MATS goes into full effect. Despite setbacks, EIA notes that coal will still be the single largest source of electricity generation until 2034, when natural gas overtakes it.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/29/epa-regulations-set-to-increase-natural-gas-prices-by-150-percent/#ixzz30NcOfp00