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FreedomWorks Senior Fellow Tom Borelli on the impact of government regulations on the coal industry.
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How about the war on call I happen is a war.
Here's what we know ought to -- -- coal fire plants are expected to close was some major companies like Duke Energy saying.
It is all because of EPA regulations -- coal miners union says it's not endorsing President Obama this time around and many say the state of the coal industry.
Will be a big factor in this year's election.
Here's the question are the plant's closing and job losses due solely to -- regulations.
-- -- the industry just shifting the cheaper natural gaps with me now is Tom rally.
Bring it works senior felt thank you so much for joining extended back you know as -- not covered energy in its industry for a long time and I do think the EPA -- coal.
I'm not sure if the transition that we're seeing right now is a result of that -- because natural gas is so plentiful and cheap.
The bulk of playing a factor but the by far the driving force the driving force is the EPA's war -- -- all that well first of all President Obama.
Before he was elected -- the last election time -- he said you could use coal but this cap and trade playing utilities would likely go bankrupt.
He -- cap and trade that failed.
Then -- -- in the EPA.
But he's using EPA after EPA -- from cradle to grave they're trying to bury the coal industry.
You can't get a mining permit the fact Arch Coal had a water permit -- A what joining active mind -- -- making more expensive for utilities to use it with the regulations to trying to regulate the coal ash.
And you can't have a build the future coal plant because of the greenhouse gas rule at this cradle to grave there's no coal industry.
At the same time I've seen ads that he's running in Ohio saying that he is a friend of the coal industry he's lying but -- -- get any traction and we do people see that believe that it has -- and I mean I've watched I don't mind.
And EU if he -- like he's quoting real thing decides -- Like he said in the introduction -- with these utilities are saying when.
They're closing plants we're closing this plants Duke Energy.
Because of EPA regulations.
American Electric Power -- closing because of EPA regulations FirstEnergy -- closing because of EPA regulations.
Plant if the plant -- closing because of the EPA.
They have their boot against the coal -- -- throat and it may be political payback.
Okay what are the coal miners they've finder's warrant caller did they think it's natural gas and we didn't really blame the president for that oh absolutely that's why not seen a coal -- -- -- coming out of endorsing Obama.
They did the last time.
They learn their lesson over the weekend my wife and I we're at I don't rally with coal miners from West Virginia that drove to Ohio to lobby -- neighboring state.
To you know.
Vote for president for future president on the aren't they endorsing president -- Lira being just looking -- New York's junior member that the hierarchy but the rank and file -- union and non -- coal miners are I think going to go for for a Romney.
And also -- that someone from railroad you know railroads get up to 30%.
Of their revenue from coal -- those stocks are being hit so lot of blue collar union jobs are on the line and these people are worried about their jobs.
-- I agree with you that it's a problem I'm just not sure that the message is getting all the way through I mean like in.
How many votes do you think that this could possibly -- the president in Ohio and could -- decide the state.
All the could decide to state especially in southwest.
Southeastern Ohio where call money's important.
Look the state of West Virginia in a primary voted for 40% -- -- for a convict.
-- -- you know compared to President Obama because of the war on call I believe and you also have Virginia and Pennsylvania still involved with coal.
This could be a big issue.
But there's no doubt EPA's war on coal is forcing these utilities to close at a time utility close that's -- utility workers are getting thrown out and is nowhere to ship the coal because they're not buying it.
OK I don't I hear yeah dollar I have people on -- they say natural gas we gotta have both sides thank you so much for coming at least appreciate.
