Gunner Asch
2015-06-25 03:19:55 UTC
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/black-chamber-commerce-epa-plan-will-increase-black-poverty-23-strip-7m-black
Black Chamber of Commerce: EPA Clean Air Plan Will Increase Black
Poverty 23%, Strip 7,000,000 Black Jobs
By Ali Meyer | June 24, 2015 | 10:21 AM EDT
National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford testifying
in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on June 23, 2015.
(Screen capture)
(CNSNews.com) - A study commissioned by the National Black Chamber of
Commerce, which represents 2.1 million black-owned businesses in the
United States, found that the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA)
Clean Power Plan would increase black poverty by 23 percent and cause
the loss of 7 million jobs for black Americans by 2035.
The study also found that the EPA' plan would increase Hispanic
poverty by 26 percent and cause the loss of 12 million jobs for
Hispanic Americans by 2035.
The EPA proposed the Clean Power Plan on June 2, 2014 to cut carbon
emissions from power plants. The National Black Chamber of Commerce
commissioned the study to evaluate the potential economic and
employment impacts of the plan on minority groups.
National Black Charmber of Commerce President Harry Alford explained
the results of the report, Potential Impact of Proposed EPA
Regulations on Low Income Groups and Minorities at the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on Tuesday.
The study finds that the Clean Power Plan will inflict severe and
disproportionate economic burdens on poor families, especially
minorities, said Alford in his prepared statement. The EPAs
proposed regulation for GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from existing
power plants is a slap in the face to poor and minority families.
These communities already suffer from higher unemployment and poverty
rates compared to the rest of the country, yet the EPAs regressive
energy tax threatens to push minorities and low-income Americans even
further into poverty, Alford added.
"According to a recent study commissioned by the National Black
Chamber of Commerce," Alford said, "the Clean Power Plan would:
increase Black poverty by 23 percent and Hispanic povety by 26
percent; result in cumulative job losses of 7 million for Blacks and
nearly 12 million for Hispanics in 2035; and decrease Black and
Hispanic median household income by $455 and $515 respectively, in
2035."
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) rebutted this view, saying that states who
have taken action on climate change have seen their economies grow.
Many states, such as New York and Delaware, have already taken action
to reduce the largest emitter of carbon pollution - power plant
emissions, Carper said. As we will hear today, the economies of
these states continue to grow at a faster rate than the states that
have yet to put climate regulations in place. However, we need all
states to do their fair share to protect the air we breathe and stem
the tide of climate change. The EPAs Clean Power Plan attempts to do
just that.
Opponents of the plan like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) say
that the Clean Power Plan will raise electricity prices and hurt
businesses in her state.
I introduced ARENA [Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act] and am
holding this hearing today because of the devastating impact that
EPAs proposed regulations will have on the families and businesses in
my home state and across the nation, said Capito. I am not
exaggerating when I say almost every day back home in West Virginia,
there are new stories detailing plants closed, jobs lost, and price
increases.
One of the businesses in Capitos home state, Ammar, Inc., a
family-owned company that operates 19 Magic Mart stores in West
Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky wrote Capito a letter about the EPA
regulation.
There was a time when your greatest obstacle was your competitor, but
if you worked hard, took care of your customers and offered quality
merchandise at a fair price, you could compete successfully, the
letter stated. Unfortunately, that is now not the case The largest
impediment we have to operating our business successfully is our own
government, particularly the EPA. The rulings issued by the EPA have
devastated our regional economy.
Coal provided 96 percent of West Virginias electricity last year.
West Virginia has among the lowest electricity prices in the nation:
last year, the average price was 27 percent below the national
average, said Capito. But that advantage will not survive this
administrations policies. Studies have projected the Clean Power Plan
will raise electricity prices in West Virginia by between 12 and 16
percent.
Put simply, there is no way that this massive, largely EPA-driven
reduction in coal fired electricity generation is going to impact only
coal states. Its going to impact the majority of states, and the
families and businesses within them. Often, the poorest and most
vulnerable populations will bear the brunt of this increase, she
said.
Black Chamber of Commerce: EPA Clean Air Plan Will Increase Black
Poverty 23%, Strip 7,000,000 Black Jobs
By Ali Meyer | June 24, 2015 | 10:21 AM EDT
National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry Alford testifying
in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on June 23, 2015.
(Screen capture)
(CNSNews.com) - A study commissioned by the National Black Chamber of
Commerce, which represents 2.1 million black-owned businesses in the
United States, found that the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA)
Clean Power Plan would increase black poverty by 23 percent and cause
the loss of 7 million jobs for black Americans by 2035.
The study also found that the EPA' plan would increase Hispanic
poverty by 26 percent and cause the loss of 12 million jobs for
Hispanic Americans by 2035.
The EPA proposed the Clean Power Plan on June 2, 2014 to cut carbon
emissions from power plants. The National Black Chamber of Commerce
commissioned the study to evaluate the potential economic and
employment impacts of the plan on minority groups.
National Black Charmber of Commerce President Harry Alford explained
the results of the report, Potential Impact of Proposed EPA
Regulations on Low Income Groups and Minorities at the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on Tuesday.
The study finds that the Clean Power Plan will inflict severe and
disproportionate economic burdens on poor families, especially
minorities, said Alford in his prepared statement. The EPAs
proposed regulation for GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions from existing
power plants is a slap in the face to poor and minority families.
These communities already suffer from higher unemployment and poverty
rates compared to the rest of the country, yet the EPAs regressive
energy tax threatens to push minorities and low-income Americans even
further into poverty, Alford added.
"According to a recent study commissioned by the National Black
Chamber of Commerce," Alford said, "the Clean Power Plan would:
increase Black poverty by 23 percent and Hispanic povety by 26
percent; result in cumulative job losses of 7 million for Blacks and
nearly 12 million for Hispanics in 2035; and decrease Black and
Hispanic median household income by $455 and $515 respectively, in
2035."
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) rebutted this view, saying that states who
have taken action on climate change have seen their economies grow.
Many states, such as New York and Delaware, have already taken action
to reduce the largest emitter of carbon pollution - power plant
emissions, Carper said. As we will hear today, the economies of
these states continue to grow at a faster rate than the states that
have yet to put climate regulations in place. However, we need all
states to do their fair share to protect the air we breathe and stem
the tide of climate change. The EPAs Clean Power Plan attempts to do
just that.
Opponents of the plan like Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) say
that the Clean Power Plan will raise electricity prices and hurt
businesses in her state.
I introduced ARENA [Affordable Reliable Electricity Now Act] and am
holding this hearing today because of the devastating impact that
EPAs proposed regulations will have on the families and businesses in
my home state and across the nation, said Capito. I am not
exaggerating when I say almost every day back home in West Virginia,
there are new stories detailing plants closed, jobs lost, and price
increases.
One of the businesses in Capitos home state, Ammar, Inc., a
family-owned company that operates 19 Magic Mart stores in West
Virginia, Virginia and Kentucky wrote Capito a letter about the EPA
regulation.
There was a time when your greatest obstacle was your competitor, but
if you worked hard, took care of your customers and offered quality
merchandise at a fair price, you could compete successfully, the
letter stated. Unfortunately, that is now not the case The largest
impediment we have to operating our business successfully is our own
government, particularly the EPA. The rulings issued by the EPA have
devastated our regional economy.
Coal provided 96 percent of West Virginias electricity last year.
West Virginia has among the lowest electricity prices in the nation:
last year, the average price was 27 percent below the national
average, said Capito. But that advantage will not survive this
administrations policies. Studies have projected the Clean Power Plan
will raise electricity prices in West Virginia by between 12 and 16
percent.
Put simply, there is no way that this massive, largely EPA-driven
reduction in coal fired electricity generation is going to impact only
coal states. Its going to impact the majority of states, and the
families and businesses within them. Often, the poorest and most
vulnerable populations will bear the brunt of this increase, she
said.