Noem Reiterates Opposition to Cap-And-Trade Following Tour of Big Stone Power Plant

Highlights Opponent’s Support for Policies That Would Cause Electricity Rates in South Dakota To Increase 48%
 
Big Stone City, SD – Following a tour of the Big Stone Power Plant today, Rep. Kristi Noem reiterated her opposition to the cap-and-trade energy tax. During the plant tour Kristi Noem and plant officials discussed how policies like cap-and-trade, carbon taxes and other regulations could cause electricity rates to skyrocket, meaning higher utility rates for South Dakota families.  A South Dakota Public Utilities Commission study from 2009 found that cap-and-trade would raise electricity rates nearly 50%.
 
“Not only will cap-and-trade hurt our farmers and ranchers by raising production costs, but it would also make it more expensive for South Dakota families to power their homes,” said Kristi Noem. “What’s troubling is that my opponent hasn’t been forthcoming about his past as a cap-and-trade supporter.  If the policies that Matt Varilek spent years advocating were now in place, South Dakota families would be paying an extra $1,700 as part of a new national energy tax.”
 
Noem’s opponent, Democrat Matt Varilek, spent years seeking to implement a cap-and-trade system before going to work for the United States Senate.  Plans for a new coal-fired power plant were canceled as a direct result of proposed cap-and-trade legislation.  As a result, South Dakota lost out on a new source of jobs and power.
 
To learn more about Matt Varilek’s support for cap-and-trade, please visit http://www.capandtaxmatt.com/.
 
Cap-And-Trade Would Cause SD Electricity Rates to Increase Nearly 50%:
“Cost estimates submitted by national experts and the state’s power providers and analysis performed by the PUC suggests a cap and trade program would increase electric rates in South Dakota by an average of 48 percent between now and 2015.” (“Carbon Cap and Trade: National Policy, Local Impact,” South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, April 15, 2009)
 
Cap-And-Trade, Government Regulations Blamed For Delay and Cancelation of Big Stone II Plant:
“The Big Stone II project would provide electricity to thousands of customers in five states, including South Dakota. But the project is facing another delay. Friday, the utility leading the effort to build the power plant in South Dakota pulled out of the [Big Stone II] project. Minnesota-based Otter Tail Power Company blames the economic downturn and uncertainty about federal legislation to regulate carbon emissions.” (Charlene Richards, “What’s Next For Big Stone II?” KELO, Sept. 13, 2009)
 
“At a staff meeting earlier this week, North Dakota’s three public service commissioners blamed the failure of the Big Stone II plant on the uncertainty of the regulatory environment because of cap-and-trade legislation.”  (Rebecca Beitsch, “Crabtree, Cramer disagree over Big Stone II,” Bismarck Tribune, June 26, 2010)
 
Cap-and-Trade Could Cost South Dakota Families $1,700 A Year:
“A previously unreleased analysis prepared by the U.S. Department of Treasury says the total in new taxes would be between $100 billion to $200 billion a year. At the upper end of the administration’s estimate, the cost per American household would be an extra $1,761 a year.” (Declan McCullagh, “Obama Admin: Cap And Trade Could Cost Families $1,761 A Year,” CBS News, Sept. 15, 2009)
 
Obama: Cap-and-Trade Will Bankrupt Coal Power Plants:
Obama: “So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.” (Daniel Halper, “Obama Warned that His Policies Would Bankrupt Coal Power Plant Owners,” Weekly Standard, May 11, 2012)