Report: Southern spent $17.5 million to fight EPA rules

Atlanta-based Southern Co. spent $17.5 million lobbying against federal environmental rules that eventually will cause the nation's largest utility to close or retrofit several of its coal-fired power plants, according to a report released Tuesday.

The parent of Georgia Power spent that money in 2010 through the first quarter of 2012, the report from the National Resource Defense Council said. The amount is the second-highest in a group of eight utilities that spent a total of $67 million during that time.

Southern and the other utilities have opposed rules that target mercury, acid gases and other emissions that come primarily from coal- and oil-fired power units nationwide. The utilities also have sued or asked their home states to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which passed the rules in 2011.

"We want to see these companies focus their money on cleaning up the air pollution instead of using litigation and lobbying to weaken and delay [policies]," said Pete Altman, the NRDC's climate and clean air campaign director.

Southern has said complying with the rules could cost it between $13 billion and $18 billion by 2020, driving up electricity bills by 10 percent to 20 percent, although that could take years. The company also said it has spent $8.3 billion on pollution controls to curb emissions.

"We believe it is our responsibility to advocate for an advanced American energy policy that provides better energy for America and protects the interests of our customers," Southern spokesman Steve Higginbottom said.

The NRDC's report was released the day before the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on a measure that would delay the EPA's mercury rule. The U.S. House also is considering bills that would delay other EPA rules.