.• 

(n\ Local Union 613 

\W) International Brotherhood of Hectrical Workers "--~--~/ 

Suite 250 • IBEW Building , 501 Pulliam Street, S.W. ~ Atlanta, Georgia 30312 ~ 404 523-8107 

Testimony of Ben Myers Before the Environmental Protection Agency 

Regarding the Clean Power Plan 

Atlanta, Georgia 

July 30, 2014 

Good afternoon. My name is Ben Myers. I am Director of Governmental and Political 

Affairs for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 613 in Atlanta, 

Georgia. On behalf of the approximately 4300 active members and retirees of Local613, I thank 

you for the opportunity to testify regarding the EPA's Clean Power Plan. 

Please know the majority ofLocal613 members are construction electricians, linemen, 

and apprentices who are employed by electrical contractors throughout the Atlanta metropolitan 

area and northern Georgia. Local 613 also represents voice, data, and video technicians who 

work in the construction industry as welL 

Coal has been good to the members ofLocal613. Many of our members have been 

involved in the construction and maintenance of numerous coal-fired powerhouses in Georgia. 

Much like the operation of a coal-tired plant, the construction and maintenance of coal 

generation is labor-intensive as well. 

Unfortunately, the Clean Power Plan imperils a good source of work for Loca1613 

members and threatens the reliability of our nation's electrical grid. Nationally, EPA has stated 

the Clean Power Plan will lead to the closure of41 to 49 gigawatts of coal-fired generating 

capacity by 2020. This will lead to the loss of 52,000 permanent, direct jobs and an additional 

I 00,000 indirect jobs. In Georgia, the Clean Power Plan will close six plants that combined, 

currently produce 5,200 megawatts of electricity. The state will lose approximately 1300 direct 

and 2,500 indirect jobs. For Local613 members the pain will be ongoing, for when these plants 

close any future maintenance and/or repair work will be lost forever. 

In addition to lost employment, the Clean Power Plan will threaten the reliability of our 

nation's electric grid. One need only look up north at the effects oflast winter's polar vortex. At 

its peak, during one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record PJM, a Regional Transmission 

Authority whose jurisdiction includes parts of the mid-Atlantic and eastern Midwestern states, 

had as little as 700 megawatts of reserve power. We know that compliance with the Mercury 

and Air Toxic Standard will close approximately 56 gigawatts of coal-fired generation. Add to 

that an additional49 gigawatts from the Clean Power Plan and its clear the U.S. electric utility 
/ · · . \ local Union 613 0

/-----, 1

'< ~~~ ) International Brotherhood of Hectrical Workers 

Suite 250 • IBEW Building • 501 Pulliam Street, S.W. • Atlanta, Georgia 30312 • 404 523-8107 

sector may have a difficult time meeting the nation's needs during a winter cold snap or 

summer heat wave. 

For the loss of3800 jobs in Georgia alone, Local613 members have a reasonable 

expectation there will be a worthwhile drop in C02 emissions. Unfortunately, that is not the 

case. For all the pain the Clean Power Plan will cause there will be almost no reduction in C02 

emissions. The problem is not with the United States. U.S. C02 emissions have been flat for 24 

years. The problem is with the rest of the world, where C02 emissions have risen approximately 

44 percent since 1990. Please see the graph included with my testimony. It is impossible for the 

United States to solve the world's global warming problem on its own. Any meaningful attempt 

to address global greenhouse gas emissions must incorporate American's trading partners, 

particularly China and India. 

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify. I respectfully suggest EPA reconsider the 

Clean Power Plan taking into account its significant negative impact to the economy and grid 

reliability. 
U.S. and Global Carbon Emissions Projections 

(million metric tons) 

-!5.000 

.;.o.oc.o 

35.000 

30.000 

25.0GO 

20,0CO 

15.000 

10.000 

'3.\)00 • ------------·---------===-~·~==========

I) 

1990 2010 2020 

,. Total Global C02 Emissions ---Total Global C02 Emissions with EPA Rule 

--Nan-U.S. C02 Emissions --u.s. C02 Emissions 

--u.s. C02 Emissions with EPA Rule 

Sou tee EPA Carbon Regulation P1oposa1. pg 5-4i -54!. and YNti'<.EI.l.iO'I/fore(aSts/leo/table21.c~