( CNN ) -- While there has been much discussion about the heartburn the new EPA rule on carbon emissions is causing Democrats in this year 's midterms -- especially those from energy producing states -- the person who should be most troubled about the President 's decision is Hillary Clinton . The administration 's new coal rule could singlehandedly give the Republican nominee in 2016 a path to victory in an Electoral College that has been getting more and more difficult for the GOP . States that have trended Democratic can flip back red . Hello Ohio , the GOP has certainly missed your 18 Electoral College votes . Pennsylvania ( 20 votes ) and Michigan ( 16 votes ) had all but turned blue , but with higher utility bills coming to voters before 2016 , both are right back in play for the GOP . Win two of those three states and the Republican wins the White House . Virginia 's 13 electoral votes just got a lot more winnable , too . There is a reason the President did not act so aggressively on his environmental agenda until after his re-election . It would have doomed his campaign . His political advisers responsible for his re-election would have never allowed it . The political folks are gone now and the President does not have to think about things in a political context anymore ; he gets to think about himself and the history books . But what 's a legacy issue for Obama may not be a good thing for Hillary Clinton . To achieve the President 's goal of a 30 % emissions reduction will cost money , a lot of money . Much of the money will come from working families paying higher utility bills in an already difficult economy . Jobs will also be lost as businesses grapple with higher energy costs . The EPA itself estimates electricity costs will increase up to 7 % by 2020 , critics say it will be far higher . The critics will be right on this one . In 2014 , the debate for Senate candidates will be about the prospect of higher utility bills . In 2016 , the debate will be about actual higher utility bills . It will be interesting to see the first presidential poll in Ohio after utility bills spike . If I 'm a Clinton adviser , it is already giving me nightmares . When voter 's utility bills go up , they get mad . Just ask the Labor Party in Australia . They got decimated last year for passing a carbon tax . Just five days before Election Day in 2010 , Labor party Prime Minister Julia Gillard vowed at the National Press Club , `` There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead . '' That promise was not kept and a carbon tax went into effect in 2012 . As a result of the carbon tax , Australian utility bills went up over $ 500 per household a year . Public opinion turned on a dime . Gillard was removed from the 2013 ballot by her own party before a sure defeat and was replaced by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd . It made no difference . Now , on behalf of his legacy and place in history , President Obama and his EPA are going to make things difficult for the left in America in 2014 and beyond . And all Hillary Clinton can do about the EPA rule that is creating an electoral minefield for her 2016 bid is applaud . Clinton can not be critical of the EPA rule or she could risk alienating her base and losing a second nomination fight . The environmentalists are a powerful force in Democratic primary politics , especially on the money side . The 2016 presidential campaign just got a lot more interesting . Michigan and Pennsylvania , welcome back to presidential politics , you are now again swing states . The path to 270 electoral votes for the Republican nominee just got a lot easier . And President Obama may have just denied Hillary Clinton the White House , for a second time . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
Dan Ronayne thinks the new carbon emission standards could work against Democrats . The rules could push swing states over to the the White House in the 2012 election , he says . Ronayne : States like Pennsylvania , Ohio and Pennsylvania could switch from blue to red . Win two of those three states and the Republican wins the White House .