America has long been powered by coal, and in recent decades coal-fired power has become far more high-tech. Coal is now the predominant source of reliable, affordable power generation for many states, and provides roughly 80 percent of Missouri’s electrical power. As coal-fired power production has become more important to Missouri, the industry has progressed greatly by adding technology that carefully “scrubs” emissions of unwanted byproducts such as sulfur and particulate matter.

While China is clearly the largest country that needs to clean up its act, the EPA is concerned with cutting America’s coal-fired power production on a fast timetable. But coal provides 38 percent of America’s total electricity generation — more than any other power source — which means that a lot of our electrical supply is at risk. The problem we face is that existing, alternative supplies simply can’t make up the difference.

Studies of the new EPA plan suggest that, once the new rules are in place, a family of four could see their home energy bills increase by hundreds of dollars each year. And what will America get for this trade-off? A theoretical reduction in global temperatures of a tiny fraction of a degree by 2100.

The American people are busy trying to make ends meet. They’re not focused on the climate issue like Washington is. A recent Gallup poll found that 62 percent of Americans do not see climate change as a serious threat. But they do rank a struggling economy at the top of their list of worries.

I want to know how many families are prepared to pay hundreds of dollars more for their electricity each year — especially for no meaningful environmental improvement. And how often will paying for such an increase mean having to choose between buying groceries or monthly medicine in order to keep their house warm during the winter? That’s a scenario we’re likely to face, once the EPA plan is fully implemented.

In the real world of belt-tightening and limited household budgets, many families can hardly afford higher energy prices. For the sake of those families and individuals who are struggling each day to pay their bills, I hope state governors will tell the EPA to rethink this costly, risky plan.

Dr. Charles Steele Jr. is president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization co-founded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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