Chamber Applauds Study About Mercury Controls

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today welcomed a report issued by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) that found the Bush administration's proposed cap-and-trade approach to reduce mercury emissions will achieve larger reductions of emissions from coal-fired power plants than a one-size-fits-all Maximum Achievable Control Technology approach.

"Environmentalists and the Bush administration should take strong note of this new report," said William Kovacs, Chamber vice president of environmental and regulatory affairs. "Should it prove necessary to limit mercury emissions from power plants, the EPRI study provides the clearest case yet for the use of a cap-and-trade approach."

EPRI's findings show that power plants are not the major source of mercury emissions and stand in strong contrast to the unsupported claims by environmental groups, according to the Chamber.

The Chamber recently filed comments with EPA concerning the agency's proposed regulatory approach for control of mercury emissions from power plants. The mercury proposal is at the heart of the administration's Clear Skies initiative, which is designed to promote further reductions in air pollution. The Chamber supports a cap-and-trade policy that would allow flexibility in achieving emissions targets to improve air quality.

"It's reassuring to note that EPRI's findings support the points that we made when we submitted our comments," Kovacs said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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