Fiegen and Nelson Leading for SD Utility Consumers

PIERRE- The Obama administration EPA continues its regulatory war on energy production facilities. June 25 was the deadline for the public to file comments on the EPA’s latest regulatory scheme to make it much more expensive or impossible to build new coal fired power plants in this country. The New Source Performance Standard severely restricts CO2 emissions to the point new facilities would be required to add carbon capture and storage technology. Such technology is not economically feasible.

Kristie Fiegen and Chris Nelson, members of South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission, supported the PUC’s comments filed with the EPA pointing out the new costs which these regulations will impose on South Dakota utility consumers.

“Electric rates will continue to increase because of the additional costs the EPA is placing on our coal fire power plants. Nearly 70% of the time South Dakotan’s turn on their lights, the electricity is generated by coal. We need to continue to stand up for South Dakota families and be advocates for clean affordable energy that protect the pocketbooks of consumers,” said Fiegen.

Fiegen and Nelson join many fellow South Dakotans in opposing these new regulations including members of rural electric cooperatives who are especially concerned about the effect of these regulations on electric rates in rural South Dakota. Fiegen and Nelson believe we need to utilize all domestic energy resources, not regulate domestic energy sources out of existence.

Where do PUC candidates Matt McGovern and Nick Nemec stand on this serious issue?

Said Nelson, “South Dakota voters need to ask PUC candidates whether they stand with the Obama EPA or with South Dakota utility consumers. I believe South Dakotan’s deserve commissioners like Kristie Fiegen and myself who will oppose excessive and costly federal regulations.”