HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — New rules and goals set by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants are unrealistic, according to speakers at the 10th annual Energy and Natural Resources Symposium on Thursday at St. Mary’s Center for Education.

Featured speakers were Mark McCullough, executive vice president of generation for American Electric Power; Jeff Herholdt, West Virginia Division of Energy director; and David Flannery, attorney with Steptoe & Johnson. The symposium was hosted by Natural Resource Partners and the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce. West Virginia Delegate Kevin Craig, executive vice president of coal for NRP, was the event moderator.

While each speaker took different angles, the common theme was the EPA’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 simply cannot be done.

“Somewhere there was a lack of consideration for practical reliability,” McCullough said. “It’s not a matter of won’t; we can’t meet these new requirements and keep providing reliable, affordable service to our customers…