By Tony McVeigh, Kentucky Public Radio
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-971739.mp3
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Representatives of several coal-fired utilities in Kentucky say meeting federal clean air standards already in the pipeline will require investments of billions of dollars.
John Voyles of Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities testified Thursday before the Kentucky House Natural Resources and Environment Committee. He the utility company's capital costs could rise by four billion dollars over the next ten years.
"This does not deal with the water rules. It does not deal with renewable portfolio standards of any kind. And it certainly does not deal with any climate change rules that might still be legislated in the future."
Voyles and representatives of Big Rivers, East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Kentucky Power and Duke Energy all say significant utility rate increases in coming years will be necessary for them to comply with new federal environmental standards.
Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence) says the Environmental Protection Agency has declared war on Kentucky coal.
"What they're really doing is - if they don't like the types of utilities that we use, then they can continue to change the rules until they just put us out of business. And that's what they seem to be trying to do here."
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell also blasted the EPA this week in a speech before the Kentucky Coal Association.