STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION 39	By:	Bingman of the Senate

			and

		Schwartz of the House

AS INTRODUCED

A Concurrent Resolution urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency to allow states to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from certain electric generation facilities; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, a reliable and affordable energy supply is vital to Oklahoma's economic growth, jobs and the overall interests of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, fossil fuels provide affordable and reliable electricity to the citizens of Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, carbon regulations for existing fossil-fueled power plants could threaten the affordability and reliability of Oklahoma's electricity supplies, and therefore, threaten the wellbeing of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 2013, the President of the United States directed the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue standards, regulations or guidelines to address carbon dioxide emissions from new, existing, modified and reconstructed fossil-fueled power plants; and
WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act requires EPA to establish a "procedure" under which each state shall develop a plan for establishing and implementing standards of performance for existing sources within the state; and
WHEREAS, the EPA's existing regulations provide that states may adopt "less stringent emissions standards or longer compliance schedules" than EPA's guidelines based on factors such as "unreasonable cost of control", "physical impossibility of installing necessary control equipment" or other factors that make less stringent standards or longer compliance times "significantly more reasonable"; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of electricity consumers in this state to continue to benefit from reliable, affordable electricity provided by fossil-based electricity generating plants.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
THAT Oklahoma urges the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in developing guidelines for regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, to respect the primacy of Oklahoma and other states and to rely on state regulators to develop performance standards for carbon dioxide emissions that take into account the unique policies, energy needs, resource mix and economic priorities of Oklahoma and other states; and
THAT the EPA should issue guidelines and approve state-established performance standards that are based on reductions of carbon dioxide emissions achievable by measures undertaken at fossil-fueled electric generation facilities; and
THAT Oklahoma and other states should be given maximum flexibility by EPA to implement carbon dioxide performance standards for fossil-fueled electric generation facilities within their jurisdiction.
THAT copies of this resolution be distributed to the members of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation and Gina McCarthy, Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency.

54-2-3608	 MJM	4/2/2014 11:54:56 AM