While new EPA regulations have been decried by some critics as a “war on coal,” administrator Lisa Jackson explains in this interview with EnergyNOW that the agency’s role isn’t to determine the source of the nation’s energy.

“First off, EPA doesn’t require shutting down of any plant,” Jackson says. “Once EPA sets [pollution] rules, the business has to look at their portfolio and make a decision about whether to invest in [existing power] plants or not.”

“What EPA’s role is to do is to level the playing field, so that pollution costs are not exported to the population.”

Ken is the director of the Energy News Network at Fresh Energy and is a founding editor of both Midwest Energy News and Southeast Energy News. Prior to joining Fresh Energy, he was the managing editor for online news at Minnesota Public Radio. He started his journalism career in 2002 as a copy editor for the Duluth News Tribune before spending five years at the Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Washington, where he worked as a copy editor, online producer, features editor and night city editor. A Nebraska native, Ken has a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree from the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

One reply on “Video: Lisa Jackson on EPA’s role in power grid”