EPA's most devastating edict stands, Kentucky to pay the cost

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Despite the efforts of Sen. Rand Paul and other federal legislators who continue to fight for state sovereignty over Kentucky's energy sector, the resolution to halt one of the Environmental Protection Agency's most devastating new edicts failed yesterday in the Senate.

The margin was a close 46-53.

The resolution would have halted the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) regulations - a real piece of work that virtually guarantees no new coal-fired power plants will be established in - well, anywhere.

Utility MACT also threatens to force the shut-down of existing coal plants and more than 70,000 industry jobs here in Kentucky. One plant that has already given up on its plans to conform to the draconian standards of the environmental zealots at the EPA is Big Sandy 2 near Louisa, KY. That plant had plans to spend nearly $1 billion to alter its facilities for the sake of staying in business in the face of federal threats, but the economics just weren't there. Big Sandy is likely to shut down its coal-fired facilities this year.

Without the support of federal legislators, it looks like the citizens of Appalachia will have to go it alone to protect their energy sector from federal encroachment.