Some electricity providers not worried about new EPA rules

Many utilities and electricity companies around the country have raised a furor over new rules laid out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but not all electricity suppliers are so heavily opposed to them.

The new rules put in place strict limitations on emissions of certain toxic chemicals like mercury, the main target of the bill, and arsenic.

These kinds of emissions are most likely to be found from older coal plants and some natural gas plants, some of which have been in operation for more than half a century. Many utility companies worry that they will need to shut down some of their power plants, leading to higher electricity rates.

However, The Associated Press reports that U.S. Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland notes that his state’s electricity providers are not worried about the new rules, having invested substantially in clean energy projects and upgrades to fossil fuel burning plants to reduce emissions.

States that have implemented electricity deregulation could fare better under this policy as well, as many alternate electricity providers have invested in renewable electricity as a different approach to customers. Companies like Connecticut-based Viridian Energy even offer some 100 percent renewable electricity options, which could maintain the same low prices even with the new rules.