RDC Comment Letter:
Support of SJR 37, a Resolution Blocking Utility MACT

May 29, 2012

Senator Mark Begich
United States Senate
111 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Begich:

The Resource Development Council (RDC) for Alaska writes to request your support of SJR 37, a resolution blocking the Environmental Protection Agency’s Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rule (Utility MACT).

RDC is an Alaskan non-profit, membership-funded organization founded in 1975. The RDC membership is comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, timber, tourism, and fisheries industries, as well as Alaska Native corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to link these diverse interests together to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.

RDC urges you to vote in favor of this important resolution to protect affordable and reliable electricity, as well as jobs. As Alaska is a coal producing state, we must be cautious of the overly burdensome regulations the federal government implements with potential serious economic impacts.

According to the EPA and the Office of Management and Budget, the Utility MACT rule is projected to be the most expensive power plant regulation in history. We are concerned that the Utility MACT rule will preclude coal from what should be a diverse and cost effective energy portfolio that includes renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

RDC urges your support of SJR 37 to preserve affordable electricity, the security and reliability of our energy supply, and jobs. Thank you for your consideration of our comments.

Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.