ACCCE Questions West Virginia Cost, Technology Issues in Boxer-Lieberman- Warner Bill

One concern is the cost of implementing the legislation. "Clearly Congress is concerned about that, too, since the current version sets aside $800 billion for consumer relief," Lucas said.

One study* estimates that West Virginians would experience disposable household income reductions of $700 to $2,000 per year by 2020, along with up to 10,800 job losses by that year. Coal-dependent states, such asWest Virginia and some of its neighbors, would be hardest hit by aspects of the legislation that deter access to coal as an energy source.

Lucas expressed ACCCE concerns that the legislation's targets and timelines are not consistent with the progress in carbon capture and storage technology.

"We are making progress, but we simply do not have that technology today, as we do with scrubbers and other techniques to reduce emissions," Lucas said. "Adopting a cap and trade program before the technology is in place is putting the environmental cart before the energy horse."

"ACCCE's goals are to have a climate strategy and legislative principles that will advance environmental improvement, economic prosperity, and energy security," Lucas said.

    * Study by the American Council for Capital Formation, WVA would lose
      7,200 to 10,800 jobs by 2020 and an estimated 20,400 to 27,000 jobs by
      2030.  It would reduce disposable household income by $700 to $2,100 by
      2020.  By 2030, the bill could add as much as 74% to 145% for gasoline,
      91% to 131% more for natural gas and 103% to 135% more for electricity.
      (study at http://www.accf.org/nam.html)

About ACCCE

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. Because coal is America's most abundant energy resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal's vital role in meeting our country's growing need for affordable and reliable electricity with the need to protect the environment. ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of advanced clean coal technologies that will produce electricity with near-zero emissions. Headquartered inAlexandria, VA, ACCCE has more than 40 members that represent more than $190 billion in annual revenues and employ more than 360,000 Americans. For more information, visit www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.

SOURCE ACCCE