New federal limits on mercury and air toxics emissions are expected to increase NorthWestern Energy power bills by $1,000 annually, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said Tuesday, chastising EPA for the tougher limits.
Western Montana’s Republican representative grilled EPA Administrator Michael Regan about the tighter pollution controls in a budget hearing Tuesday. Zinke’s staff later sourced the consumer costs to NorthWestern Energy.
“You’re aware that energy costs will go up by $1,000 a family. So you add $28,000, what the Bidenomics cost, and then another $1,000 a year. So where are you going to get the power when you take that offline,” Zinke said.
Wednesday in the Senate Appropriations, Montana Democrat Jon Tester asked Regan if the MATS rule could be delayed until 2032.