SMU Study: “Proposed EPA Electric Utility Air Quality Rules: Weakening the Nation’s Economic Recovery and Putting America’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Industries at Risk ”

SMU Study: “Proposed EPA Electric Utility Air Quality Rules: Weakening the Nation’s Economic Recovery and Putting America’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Industries at Risk ”

“The outcome of the EPA Rules is predictable – higher electricity and natural gas costs reduce manufacturing competitiveness, jobs and exports.” Paul Cicio, President of the Industrial Energy Consumers of America Implementation of the proposed EPA Electric Utility CrossState Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) and the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rule (MACT) have grave consequences for the global competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in general but especially for the energy intensive industries. Together, studies show that on a regional basis, electric rates covering 24 states would increase 12.1 to 23.5 percent in 2016. And, coal to natural gas fuel switching would increase natural gas prices by 17 percent by 2016.

The manufacturing sector has lost 5.7 million jobs or 33 percent since 2000. That is an average annual rate of 574,000 job losses per year. A tragedy. Despite this, the manufacturing sector is currently the only sector of the economy that is showing signs of a rebound as illustrated in output and in export growth. Higher electricity and natural gas costs threaten the continued renaissance of US manufacturing.

Globally competitive energy is an essential ingredient to manufacturing growth and exports. The reason is that energy intensive products like iron and steel, chemicals, pulp and paper, glass, cement, aluminum, lime, gypsum, nonmetallics,
clay, refractories and textile products are the basic inputs for the production of “all” finished manufactured goods.

We urge the EPA to work with industry to implement a cost effective rule that will not raise electricity and natural gas costs. If energy intensive manufacturing industries are globally competitive, more and more of the downstream manufacturing industries will prosper as well. More manufacturing products will be produced in the United States versus imported and exports would grow accordingly. This bodes well for greater economic growth and jobs.