U.S. Steel Institute Comments on Proposed Utility Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
05/15/2014 - The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) in conjunction with over a dozen other leading energy, agriculture, and manufacturing associations, submitted comments Friday to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the proposed regulations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electric generating utilities.
The proposal, which will limit the CO2 emissions of new power plants and require the use of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology for new coal-fired plants, "could have a direct impact on the affordability and reliability of electricity supply to major industrial consumers, like the steel industry," said Thomas J. Gibson, President and CEO of AISI.
"This EPA proposal is both economically infeasible and sets a bad precedent for future regulations of direct GHG emissions in other sectors of the economy," Gibson continued. "As large industrial customers we rely on a cost-effective and dependable electricity to keep our mills up and running. This proposed regulation may put the U.S. steel industry — and other energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries — at a great disadvantage against our foreign competitors like China, where energy costs are often subsidized."
The coalition urged the EPA to withdraw the proposed regulation and engage with stakeholders to set achievable and realistic standards when limiting GHG emissions from new power plants.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 22 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over three quarters of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
"This EPA proposal is both economically infeasible and sets a bad precedent for future regulations of direct GHG emissions in other sectors of the economy," Gibson continued. "As large industrial customers we rely on a cost-effective and dependable electricity to keep our mills up and running. This proposed regulation may put the U.S. steel industry — and other energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries — at a great disadvantage against our foreign competitors like China, where energy costs are often subsidized."
The coalition urged the EPA to withdraw the proposed regulation and engage with stakeholders to set achievable and realistic standards when limiting GHG emissions from new power plants.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 22 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent over three quarters of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
