I applaud the work in SB 910 to block wood stove and fireplace emission regulations being imposed by the EPA. There are many families that are forced to use wood for heat because they can no longer afford other fuel sources.

These new EPA regulations are much more dangerous than the just the use of wood for heat or cooking. Perhaps the bill should block all new mandates before their enactment commencement of January, 2015, beyond just the legal attempts of the (17) Attorney Generals around the country.

As you may know, carbon-limit cap and trade legislation failed early in the Obama Administration and these EPA regulations are an attempt to go around that failure.

From Obama’s own words, “electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket” as a result of his plans for reducing carbon emitting fuel sources. Hillsdale College’s Imprimus magazine said some 30,000 Megawatts of power will disappear from the nation’s power grid from these new rules, and replacement electricity simply does not exist.

Should electricity rates increase further because coal-fired electric generation plants shutdown from these new rules, ordinary citizens will incur further downward financial pressures many cannot occur. Worse still, a complete failure of our electric grid due to inadequate power capabilities may result from the new “climate change regulations.”

I see no way to avoid what’s coming, except the State(s) stand(s) up and block any such regulation mandates. There are a mountain (maybe mountains) of new rules, regulations, and orders being imposed upon the nation that are ubiquitous in our lives. It’s up to the States to say “no” and you are our leaders.

Anything our state can do to mitigate fuel, electricity, insurance, and other utility cost increases due to backdoor regulations imposed by overzealous ideologues, please help us.

We — I’m in this category — have incurred serious financial burdens these last several years, and it’s getting much worse in a hurry.  As a reminder, gasoline jumped and never came down. Propane is up. Electricity rates are up and sure to go much higher (if even available). Insurance rates have soared, and many have seen water/sewer rates recently double in monthly rate increases. Food, medicine, and basic staple price increases are all combining to create a perfect storm for many that survive on fixed incomes. The cost of living increases sometimes provided simply disappear from health insurance premium increases at the same time.

I’ve talked with many seniors and disabled. Every single one says about the same thing, It’s tough and getting worse in a hurry. Listen to your senior constituents and ask them how they are doing financially. Ask them if their cost of living increases are keeping up with the real cost of living. I’m trying to give you a heads up, as the States always get the brunt of bad decisions made in DC.

There has not been this many bad decisions made from that body since the late 1970’s, and this one’s on super-steroids. We could sure use your help.

 

Scott Davis

Cassopolis