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Higher electric rates and job losses

NRECA-logoA study shows jobs in rural America are impacted by higher electricity prices.

As the President rolls out the Administration’s Clean Power Plan, that would reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has released a study that shows the impact higher electricity prices would have on jobs in rural America.

Mark Hayes, Sr. Communications Manager at NRECA says job losses would result when companies leave rural areas because electric rates become too expensive.

“When you look at this you see a 10% increase in electricity prices from 2020 to 2040, a 20 year period, you have a huge number of jobs lost especially projected for 2021 at 1.2 million jobs lost and almost 500,000 of those happening in rural areas,” Hayes said.

Hayes tells Brownfield the NRECA study emphasizes the need for EPA and others involved in rule making, to understand the impact a program, like the Clean Power Plan, can have on those paying the electric bill at the end of the month.

Audio: Mark Hayes, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

According to the White House, the Clean Power Plan provides health benefits, creates jobs, saves consumers money and drives investment to clean energy technologies.

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