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Mixed opinions on Obama’s carbon plan

Reaction rolling-in to President Obama’s proposal announced Monday to reduce the carbon emissions from the nation’s fossil-fuel-fired power plants by 25 percent by the year 2020 and 30 percent by 2030.

According to the Energy Information Administration, 19 states get more than half of their electricity from coal-fired power plants. Kentucky and West Virginia get more than 90 percent of their power from coal.

The required reductions will vary by state depending upon how much carbon each state currently emits and how much they have reduced emissions already. Despite being heavily dependent on coal to generate electricity, states like West Virginia and Kentucky would have to reduce emissions by about 19 percent while New York would be required to cut 44 percent.

Under the Obama plan, states will submit their plan for reduction to the EPA by 2017: 2018 if they join with other states in creating a plan.

Critics charge the plan would be devastating to American jobs and households by driving up the cost of electricity. American Farm Bureau president Bob Stallman says not only would farmers face higher prices for electricity but any energy-related input such as fertilizer. He says rural electric co-ops would be especially hard-hit because they rely heavily upon coal generation.

National Farmers Union president Roger Johnson commended the Administration for its leadership on climate change mitigation. He says it has already begun to affect agriculture as seen in the volatile weather the past few years and it is clear that volatility will only continue. He says agriculture stands ready to be an important part of the solution with carbon sequestration and renewable fuels.