WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – One of the nation’s top manufacturing officials is warning investors and companies across the country about a new EPA regulation that could cost the country over a million jobs.
According to the New York Post, Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), spoke with FOX Business about his upcoming “State of the Manufacturing Address” in Michigan, which will include a warning about an upcoming environmental regulation proposed by the Biden Administration known as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or PM2.5.
“In his State of the Union Address next month, President Biden will probably take credit for what manufacturers have achieved. That’s fair. I know he cares deeply about manufacturing,” Timmons stated. “But what he won’t tell you is that his federal agencies are, at this very moment, working to undermine his manufacturing legacy—those agencies are undermining your success. In fact, just two weeks ago, they announced one big regulation that could wipe out up to 1 million jobs. It’s referred to as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards or PM2.5.”
“It’s not the name that matters. It’s the consequences. It’s stricter than the rules they have even in Europe. And in vast portions of the country, we will barely be able to build new manufacturing facilities as a result,” Timmons continued.
The Post reports that the regulation was first proposed by the EPA in January 2023, and on February 7 of this year, the final form was released. The regulation lowers the air quality standard from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter, tightening the NAAQS for fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, which is defined as particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less.
“The state of the manufacturing industry depends on the people in it. And we are now 13 million strong – the largest in more than 15 years. If we can continue on this trajectory, this resurgence, imagine what the state of manufacturing might look like in 2030 at the end of the decade,” Timmons said.
Wisconsin has seen the beginning of what could be a tough period for manufacturing companies, including Wausau Window and Wall, which is owned by Minnesota-based Apogee, letting go of 250 employees, some of whom worked in the Wausau division, and closing a plant in Michigan. The decision was made to help ensure the company remained financially stable for years to come as uncertain economic times continue to affect U.S. businesses.
According to the EPA’s research, the net benefits of implementing this standard—which will happen over the next few years—are the avoidance of 4,500 premature deaths, 2,000 hospital visits, and 800,000 occurrences of asthma symptoms.
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