Tournament: UNLV | Round: All | Opponent: | Judge:
The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards forces coal plants into an impossible reduction compliance schedule – destroys reliability of service
James E. McCarthy and Claudia Copeland 8/8/11
(Specialist in Environmental Policy; Specialist in Resources and Environmental Policy; CRS, "EPA’s Regulation of Coal-Fired Power: Is a "Train Wreck" Coming?" http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41914.pdf)
It is difficult to generalize about the timing and system reliability issues. Several utilities
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capital to retire, retrofit and replace coal-fueled power plants.82
It’s the biggest risk for blackouts by forcing quick shutdowns – creates bottlenecks of outages
Forbes 6/12/12
("Big Costs, Illusory Benefits: Why Congress Should Nix The Utility MACT," http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/06/12/big-costs-illusory-benefits-why-congress-should-nix-the-utility-mact/2/-http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/06/12/big-costs-illusory-benefits-why-congress-should-nix-the-utility-mact/2/)
Another downside is a greater risk of blackouts. EPA projects that the Utility MACT
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calls the EPA regulations "the number one risk" to grid reliability.
Blackouts cause meltdowns
Dina Cappiello 3/29/11
(Huffington Post contributor, "Long Blackouts Pose Risk To U.S. Nuclear Reactors," http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/29/blackout-risk-us-nuclear-reactors_n_841869.html)
These long odds are among the reasons why the United States since the late 1980s
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making it difficult to ascertain water levels and the condition of the core.
Extinction
Lendman 11
Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (Stephen, 03/ 13, "Nuclear Meltdown in Japan," http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Voices.php/2011/03/13/nuclear-meltdown-in-japan)
Reuters said the 1995 Kobe quake caused %24100 billion in damage, up to
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entire region. "It could be, literally, an apocalyptic event.
NSPS will shut down almost every coal plant – kills coal state economies
John N. Voyles, Jr. 7/16/12
(Summary for Testimony of John N. Voyles, Jr. On behalf of LG%26E and KU Energy LLC, http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/Media/file/Hearings/Energy/20120716/HHRG-112-IF03-WState-VoylesJ-20120716.pdf-http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/Media/file/Hearings/Energy/20120716/HHRG-112-IF03-WState-VoylesJ-20120716.pdf)
While extremely problematic for new facilities, a single standard for all existing or modified
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those units to standards that can only be achieved by combined cycle units.
The rails are already feeling the effect – renewed coal transit key
Zieminski %26 Malone 5/18/12
~[Nick Zieminski %26 Scott Malone, Reuters Energy writers, "UPDATE 2-Weak coal shipments weigh on U.S. railroads", Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/18/usa-railroads-idUSL1E8GI3CO20120518, via Google~]
- Car shipments up, coal down quatrer-to-date at major railroads
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Norfolk Southern’ s case, which Moorman blamed on the unseasonably warm weather.
Sharp decline in coal traffic is the most probable scenario for freight rail collapse
Eaken et al. ’11
B. Kelly Eakin is senior vice president at Christensen Associates, where ¶ A . Thomas Bozzo, Ma r k E. Me i t z en, and Phi l i p E. Sc hoe c h are ¶ vice presidents.Railroad Performance Under the Staggers Act Deregulation revived the rail freight industry, with most of the gains going to shippers. Regulation | Winter 2010–2011, http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv33n4/regv33n4-6.pdf
But the challenges facing the railroad industry go beyond the recent economic downturn. We
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overhead burden on customers, and worsen the financial condition of the railroads.
US freight rail collapse kills the chemical industry
Spraggins 9
(H. Barry Spraggins, U Nevada Reno, 2009, "The case for rail transportation of hazardous materials," Journal of Management and Marketing Research, http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09224.pdf-http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/09224.pdf)
Twenty percent of the nation’s chemicals move by rail. But railroads carry an even
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, the focus should be on the safest method of shipping, rail.
Chemical industry key to solve disease mutation
NRC 02
~[National Research Council Committee on Challenges for Chemical Sciences in the 21st century "National Security and Homeland Defense" — P 28.~]
Many drugs are produced by either chemical synthesis or biosynthetic processes. Recent advances in
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chemicals or large proteins, can be developed to better target the diseases.
Mutations ensure extinction
Yu 9
Victoria Yu, Dartmouth Journal of Undergraduate Science, "Human Extinction: The Uncertainty of Our Fate", 5-22-09 http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/spring-2009/human-extinction-the-uncertainty-of-our-fate
A pandemic will kill off all humans. In the past, humans have indeed
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could only infect birds — into a human-viable strain (10).
Extinction is inevitable without the chemical industry – environment, climate, sustainable growth habits, and water
Baum 99
(Rudy M., C%26EN Washington, Chemical and Engineering News, Millennium Special Report, 12-6, http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/cenear/991206/7749spintro2.html)
Here is the fundamental challenge we face: The world’s growing and aging population must
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mysteries and provide for humanity’s basic and not-so-basic needs.
The Pivot to Asia has driven China to an ultimatum – unless the US can show concrete commitment to China’s rise, it will kill cooperation – lack of US support will signal Manila to aggress in the South China Sea – draws in major powers and escalates globally
Xinhua 9/2/12
("U.S. owes China convincing explanation of true intentions of its Asia Pivot policy," http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2012-09/03/c_131824191.htm-http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2012-09/03/c_131824191.htm)
Since last fall, the Obama administration has been implementing the Pivot policy by expanding
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it is returning to Asia as a peacemaker, instead of a troublemaker.
Goes nuclear
Nikkei 95
~[The Nikkei weekly, Developing Asian nations should be allowed a grace period to allow their economies to grow before being subjected to trade liberalization demands, says Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, July 3, 1995, lexis~]
Developing Asian nations should be allowed a grace period to allow their economies to grow
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.S., leading to full-scale, even nuclear, war.
Coking coal is the backbone of China’s infrastructure but they can’t produce it.
Holmes 11
(Frank, CEO and chief investment officer of US Global Investors, "Coal Use Shines Light on Growth," May 3, http://www.resourceinvestor.com/2011/05/03/coal-use-shines-light-on-growth)
Coal powers the Chinese economy. The country is the world’s largest consumer, gobbling
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tons by 2035. This accounts for 94% of Australia’s total exports.
China’s coking demand is about to skyrocket
Simons 12
(Craig, fellow at the Alicia Patterson foundation, focusing on China’s energy sector, "Chinese Demand Stokes U.S. Coal Battle," Jan 2, http://aliciapatterson.org/stories/chinese-demand-stokes-us-coal-battle-http://aliciapatterson.org/stories/chinese-demand-stokes-us-coal-battle)
Given China’s rapid growth,
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roads and bridges.
Indonesia’s coal tax and export ban takes out China’s largest source – creates an energy crisis
Carl Pope 7/19/12
(former chairman of the Sierra Club, "Cheap Coal Is Dead. Long Live Renewables. (Part 1)," http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-19/cheap-coal-is-dead-long-live-renewables-part-1-.html)
Indonesia is no longer willing to be the low-cost provider; it sees
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China’s and India’s booming, but still fundamentally poor, economies will double.
US can supply if domestic producers are allowed to grow – most sought after coking coal
IBISWorld 7/6/12
(database of economic information and analysis on major US industries, "Coal Mining in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld," http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/7/prweb9672360.htm)
The Coal Mining industry has reached for the depths over the five years to 2012
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turn, industry firms have scrambled to acquire domestic firms to grow quickly.
Plan reverses the regs – otherwise, they’ll drive up prices years in advance and quickly killing the US mining industry
Michael Bastasch 8/1/12
(writer for The Daily Caller, "Coal industry wins court victory amid mine closings," http://dailycaller.com/2012/08/01/coal-industry-wins-court-victory-amid-mine-closings/~~%23ixzz22VYZCEUp)
Despite the legal victory, another coal mine shutdowns was reported today and more mineworker
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companies blame EPA regulations for their closings and the downturn in coal demand.
Mining capacity will be tight – revival of coal is the only way for the US to fill the demand
Reuters 4/18/12
("ANALYSIS-United States as a top coal exporter is here to stay," http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-18/news/sns-rt-coal-usexportsl6e8fgd2c-20120418_1_exporter-coal-producers-thermal-coal-http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-18/news/sns-rt-coal-usexportsl6e8fgd2c-20120418_1_exporter-coal-producers-thermal-coal)
But the long term uptrend of growing demand from Asia, China in particular,
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that put additional pressure on the sea-borne market," he added.
Coal is a potential launching pad for signaling US commitment to China’s rise
Gordon and Johnson-Reiser 5/11/12
(Deborah, nonresident senior associate in Carnegie’s Energy and Climate Program, Sabine Johnson-Reiser, Junior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment, "Mapping a U.S.-China Coal Partnership," http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/05/11/mapping-u.s.-china-coal-partnership/apm8)
Mapping the common conditions surrounding coal in China and the United States provides opportunities for
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gathering information to manage carbon emissions from major coal export and import nations.
The plan is a key signal of supportive cooperation – generates a perception of respect for China’s rise
Cronin 8/27
(2012, Dr. Patrick M. Cronin is Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C. He is also the editor and co-author of Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China, "Averting Conflict in the South China Sea," http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/averting-conflict-in-the-south-china-sea/)
Geostrategic and globalization interests will both persist, forcing an uncomfortable mixture of competition and
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the South China Sea will only be harnessed when there is such cooperation.
The plan is key to bolstering investor confidence in new coal plants – they’re only a failed attempt to force green markets into existence
Tom Borelli 6/15/12
(Doctorate in biochemistry from the New York Medical College, Senior Fellow with FreedomWorks, "Obama Fails as Energy Investment Officer- in-Chief," http://townhall.com/columnists/tomborelli/2012/06/15/obama_fails_as_energy_investment_officer_inchief/page/full/-http://townhall.com/columnists/tomborelli/2012/06/15/obama_fails_as_energy_investment_officer_inchief/page/full/)
When the EPA issued its proposed rule to limit greenhouse gases from power plants on
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helpless to override the inherent limitations of renewable energy to create a market.
Similar regulations empirically prove – this loss of confidence from the MACT destroys millions of jobs in the manufacturing industry
Bernard L. Weinstein Sept 11
(Dr. Weinstein is associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute and an adjunct professor of business economics in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, "Proposed EPA Power-Sector Air Rules: Weakening Economic Recovery and Putting America’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Industries at Risk," http://pressdocs.cox.smu.edu/maguire/SMU_Utility_MACT_Report.pdf-http://pressdocs.cox.smu.edu/maguire/SMU_Utility_MACT_Report.pdf)
However, employment multipliers work in both directions. Should America’s ¶ manufacturers, and
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intensive manufacturing ¶ industries, the coal industry, and electric utilities.21
Coal confidence is the biggest internal link to investor confidence in manufacturing – the regs destroy the backbone of US growth
Bernard L. Weinstein Sept 11
(Dr. Weinstein is associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute and an adjunct professor of business economics in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, "Proposed EPA Power-Sector Air Rules: Weakening Economic Recovery and Putting America’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Industries at Risk," http://pressdocs.cox.smu.edu/maguire/SMU_Utility_MACT_Report.pdf)
The federal government’s flagship energy efficiency program, EnergyStar, put the matter ¶ succinctly
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whether the product ¶ will be supplied from domestic sources or imports."6
~[NOTE: The ~[industrial~] was not me. That was in the card before. mm~]
US is key to the global economy
Caploe, 09
(David, PhD in International political economy from Princeton, "Focus still on America to lead global recovery," The Straits Times, 8/2/12)
IN THE aftermath of the G-20 summit, most observers seem to have
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recovery for the foreseeable future, even though other countries must certainly help.
Statiticsal studies prove decline causes war
Royal 10 – Director of CTR
Jedediah, Director of Cooperative Threat Reduction – U.S. Department of Defense, "Economic Integration, Economic Signaling and the Problem of Economic Crises", Economics of War and Peace: Economic, Legal and Political Perspectives, Ed. Goldsmith and Brauer, p. 213-215
Less intuitive is how periods of economic decline may increase the likelihood of external conflict
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not featured prominently in the economic-security debate and deserves more attention.
Extinction
T.E. Bearden, LTC U.S. Army (Retired), 2000
~["The Unnecessary Energy Crisis: How to Solve It Quickly," http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3aaf97f22e23.htm-http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3aaf97f22e23.htm, June 24~]
History bears out that desperate nations take desperate actions. Prior to the final economic
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, and perhaps most of the biosphere, at least for many decades.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency should exempt modified and new coal-fired power plants from Utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The Agency should change the carbon dioxide limit of the New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for modified and new coal-fired power plants to 2,000 pounds per MWh.
Exemption is empirically normal means – 2000 limit solves
Tamar Hallerman 7/20/12
(reporter at the GHG Reduction Technologies Monitor, "COAL COMPANY HEADS SAY EPA PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WILL DISINCENTIVIZE CCS," http://ghgnews.com/index.cfm/coal-company-heads-say-epa-performance-standards-will-disincentivize-ccs/)
During the hearing, the executives also faulted EPA for crafting performance standards that are
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MWh to help provide flexibility during unit startups and shutdowns, he said.
Exemption from the MACT is key – it relies on a faulty methodology and cherry-picks data
NCLC 8/3/12
(National Chamber Litigation Center, "WHITE STALLION ENERGY CENTER LLC, ET AL. V. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)," http://www.chamberlitigation.com/white-stallion-energy-center-llc-et-al-v-environmental-protection-agency-epa-http://www.chamberlitigation.com/white-stallion-energy-center-llc-et-al-v-environmental-protection-agency-epa)
According to the coalition amicus brief, the EPA’s flawed methodology for setting "Maximum
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the new standards could completely eliminate entire industries, something Congress never intended.
The regs won’t solve warming – they’re based on bad science
John N. Voyles, Jr. 7/16/12
(Summary for Testimony of John N. Voyles, Jr. On behalf of LG%26E and KU Energy LLC, http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/Media/file/Hearings/Energy/20120716/HHRG-112-IF03-WState-VoylesJ-20120716.pdf)
The proposed standard of 1,000 lbs CO2/MWH does not take into
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and shutdowns that will pose a substantial challenge in meeting the emissions standard.
The MACT is useless – squo plants are upgrading slowly and substantially decreasing emissions
Scott H. Segal 5/24/11
(Energy Reliability Coordinating Council Director, "Statement from ERCC Director Scott H. Segal at a Public Hearing on National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units," http://www.electricreliability.org/statement-ercc-director-scott-h-segal-public-hearing-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air-poll-http://www.electricreliability.org/statement-ercc-director-scott-h-segal-public-hearing-national-emissions-standards-hazardous-air-poll)
For the Agency to undertake a proper MACT analysis does not require any gap in
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EPA on sensible mercury regulations in order to achieve those benefits properly identified.
The new plants will be 90% cleaner than the ones they replace
RMCMI 12
(Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute; "Fast Facts About Coal", January 2012, http://www.rmcmi.org/education)
Power plants being built today emit 90 percent less pollutants (SO2, NOx,
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mining has been or is being reclaimed to the standards set by law.
Prefer our more recent, specific evidence – new advances make extracting and firing coal cleaner and more efficient – tech growth prevents peak coal and allows indefinite expansion
Mark P. Mills 7/1/12
(adjunct fellow of the Manhattan Institute, "Unleashing the North American Energy Colossus: Hydrocarbons Can Fuel Growth and Prosperity," http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/pgi_01.htm-http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/pgi_01.htm)
As my colleague Peter Huber and I wrote in our book, The Bottomless Well
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how much the policy dialogue lags behind the new energy-economy reality.
