The first thing that comes to mind for Dennis Molesevich when discussing the Obama Administration's final Clean Power Plan, announced this past week, is an old saying:
"If you don't mine, farm or manufacture - what do they call you?" he said. "They call you Third World."
Molesevich, owner of Mount Carmel-based D. Molesevich and Sons Construction and Atlas Anthracite, said he wants to breath clean air and drink clean water just like anyone else. But the Clean Power Plan, like other government involvement, goes too far, he believes, and the pursuit of environmental cleanliness overtakes sensible economics.
"There's no happy medium," he said.
State reaction
The federal proposal to combat climate change drew mixed reactions from Pennsylvania officials, who alternately focused on its environmental and public health effects versus its impact on the state's economy.
The plan will force carbon dioxide cutbacks in Pennsylvania, an electricity-exporting state whose power plants emit the third-highest amount of carbon dioxide in the U.S. per year, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.
The rule is the first in American history targeting carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants, the highest-emitting sector in the country. The majority of international climate scientists point to carbon dioxide as the most significant of greenhouse gases causing of global warming.
The EPA's final rule will require Pennsylvania to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide pollution per unit of electricity by about 35 percent of 2012 levels by 2030.
The plan offers states the choice of how to meet progressively stringent goals, the first of which takes effect in 2022. Gov. Tom Wolf's administration must now decide how to implement the plan, a task the governor addressed in a statement Monday.
"My administration is committed to making the Clean Power Plan work for Pennsylvania," Wolf said. "Clean coal," natural gas, solar, wind and other power sources will all be part of his strategy, he said.
State environmental secretary John Quigley said cutting power plant pollution, using lower-emitting natural gas, supporting nuclear plants, adding more renewable energy and improving energy efficiency will all be part of the state's plan.
An 'overreach,' 'obstacle'
The Pennsylvania Coal Alliance sounded off against the plan on its website, saying it is "as much a state energy policy as it is an environmental regulation and a clear overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency to achieve the administration's goal of cutting coal from America's electric portfolio."
It represents the biggest obstacle to continued coal use that has confronted the industry in decades, the council believes, and is a "de factor attempt to transform America's energy usage away from coal."
It would require Pennsylvania to reduce its emissions by 44 percent by 2030, the council reports.
Molesevich said almost all of the anthracite his company mines in Natalie goes to industries other than power production, though he does sell some coal for residential burning. A lot of his coal goes to the steel industry for use in construction of anything from bridges to cars.
But cleaner-burning anthracite gets lumped in with bituminous coal's dirty rap, he said.
"A really smart guy once told me if you burn anthracite, you're wasting it," he said, reinforcing its value in other applications.
Party lines
The region's federal legislators reactions to the Clean Power Plan largely followed party lines.
In November, Democratic Sen. Bob Casey submitted a 22-page comment commending the EPA's purpose and intent but urging the agency to not unfairly burden Pennsylvania with renewable energy mandates relative to other states.
On Monday, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey praised coal through a spokesperson as a "domestically sourced, low-cost form of energy which helps sustain jobs for Pennsylvania and beyond."
"Nevertheless, the Obama administration continues to implement policies that will make energy more expensive for hard-working Pennsylvanians while destroying good, family-sustaining jobs," he said.
In his statement, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, whose district includes Schuylkill County, said the plan would "protect public health, invest in clean, renewable energy development, boost energy efficiency measures and lower electric bills in the long run."
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, said in a statement that Pennsylvania "will be a clear loser" under this plan, which could place its 36,000 coal jobs at risk.
Plan details
The EPA made several tweaks to Pennsylvania's requirements after a six-month public comment period, slightly relaxing interim and final cutback goals compared to those first proposed in June 2014. The agency also updated its estimate of Pennsylvania's 2012 emissions based on public comments.
The EPA will publish the final rule Sept. 4 in the Federal Register. The state Department of Environmental Protection plans to announce details about public hearings across the state soon.
As the governor and DEP create the plan, the state Public Utility Commission will study its effect on utilities and consumers, Chairman Gladys M. Brown said in a statement. The agency will also study how the rules interact with state programs, including Pennsylvania's alternative energy portfolio standards that require electric utilities to draw power from a certain percentage of alternative energy.
Pennsylvania's initial plan is due June 30, 2016.