Today in a speech at Georgetown University, President Obama announced the specifics of new executive orders which will force federal bureaucrats to enact unprecedented regulations on power plant carbon emissions. Not only will these regulations have a significant negative impact on Kentuckians, no cost-benefit analysis was provided to justify such hardship.  Obama's executive orders will result in finalized carbon limits for new power plants by September of this year, drafted carbon limits for existing power plants by next year, and massive subsidies for renewable energy projects and energy efficiency standards. Expectations of such unilateral executive orders have already resulted in the loss of more than 6,000 miner jobs in the commonwealth over the past 18 months as power plants and mines alike continue to close down.

These expectations have also brought historic levels of coal exports from the commonwealth to countries friendlier to Kentucky's most valuable natural resource. But as a true showcase of the current administration's true stance on coal, Obama's executive orders are also designed to impede the ability of coal miners to profit from their way of life internationally.

Obama's plan will specifically target coal by working toward imposing bilateral agreements limiting other countries' use of the energy source. If such agreements are passed, the impoverished people in developing nations won't be the only ones severely affected by the loss of such a cheap energy source - so will Kentuckians who will have lost their last outlet for the black rock.

Sen. Rand Paul drove the point home just yesterday:

“President Obama today declared a war on coal, and thus declared a war on Kentucky jobs and our economy. Whether it is through the retroactive denial of permits, onerous regulations on coal-fired power plants, or unreasonable environmental requirements, the policies of this Administration are threatening the very way of life that has sustained Kentucky communities for generations. As a defender of the free market and of coal, I will continue to fight back against the EPA and any other federal agency whose goal is to stifle coal production. I will continue to stand up for our miners in Washington as we continue to recognize the sacrifices they make to provide food for their families and energy for America.”