EPA clean air rule could cost Ohio billions, regulator predicts

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PUCO Commissioner Asim Haque

Tom Knox

Reporter- Columbus Business First

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The U.S. EPA's carbon-reduction plan could cost Ohio consumers billions of dollars, the vice-chairman of the state's Public Utilities Commission said.

The Clean Power Plan, proposed in June, would cut carbon dioxide emissions from coal-powered plants by 30 percent by 2030.

It gives states the authority to decide how to meet those goals. Some utilities and business groups have aggressively opposed the proposals, saying they'll cost too much.

The PUCO plans to join millions of others in making formal comments on the proposals by the Dec. 1 deadline.

Commissioner and vice chairman Asim Haque gave a sneak peek of the regulator's plans. He's the point-man for the PUCO on the Clean Power Plan, he told the audience at Thursday's Ohio Advanced Energy Economy symposium.

Haque said the PUCO has no political agenda on the plan and is acting as the technical experts. The EPA "has been nothing but gracious with us," he said. But in analyzing one of the four building blocks the EPA recommends states use to meet the proposed standards, the PUCO's analysis "shows that particular building block will cost billions," Haque said.

Building block No. 2 calls for natural gas combined cycle plants to be used at up to 70 percent capacity. Opponents say the plants are not design to operate that much, and will quickly wear out. Haque did not go into details as to why it could cost so much – we'll have to wait up to three more weeks to read the PUCO's report.

Gov. John Kasich appointed Haque to the commission last year.