You still have time to comment to the EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the comment period for its proposed “Clean Power Plan” by 45 days. EPA held public ­hearings on the proposal throughout July and was originally ­accepting comments until Oct. 16. The new closing date for ­comments is Dec. 1. To make your own comment go to www.action.coop.

“Folks are still struggling to get their arms around the magnitude of the rule before us,” National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Senior Vice President of Government Relations Kirk Johnson said. “This is 1,600 pages and unprecedented areas of regulation. There are at least 52 complex questions EPA is ­seeking answers on. We’d like the EPA to ­further improve their understanding of how the electricity system works, how co-ops work and, ultimately, how this rule will affect real people.”

EPA’s plan calls for carbon dioxide emission reductions of 30 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2030, with an interim target of 25 percent by 2020.

“We know that these proposed rules will increase costs in ways that will vary across the country. Everyone is trying to do an analysis of what those costs will be,” Johnson said.