Scalise Slams Proposed EPA Rules

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Steve Scalise today issued the following statement regarding the Obama Administration’s proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations which aim to achieve a 30 percent reduction in the carbon emissions from current power plants by the year 2030.

“Today’s proposed EPA regulations are a continuation of President Obama's attack on American jobs, and it will lead to less take-home pay and higher energy costs for hard-working taxpayers as well as those on fixed incomes,” said Congressman Steve Scalise, Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power. “Once again, this Administration is trying to impose unachievable standards on our nation's power plants that have no basis in reality. If allowed to go into effect, this rule will cost millions of Americans their jobs and cost the economy over $500 billion in lost economic activity. In another end-run around Congress, President Obama is trying to resuscitate the cap-and-trade scheme that was soundly rejected by the Democrat-controlled Senate just four years ago. This radical proposal is devastating to coal-fired plants which are our nation’s largest source of electricity. Is it any wonder that our economy is still struggling and millions of Americans are looking for jobs when President Obama continues to propose radical regulations like this just to appease liberal extremists?”

Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a study of a similar proposal ahead of today’s announcement. The study reports that upwards of 224,000 jobs will be lost every year through 2030 under the studied proposed standards. The Chamber study goes on to say that under regulations similar to those proposed, the average household will lose $3,400 in disposable income.

Specifically, the EPA proposed rule seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants by 30 percent by the year 2030. Each state will have different reduction standards, with the national average being 25 percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030. The rule will give states flexibility in complying with the standards by allowing them to participate in cap-and-trade schemes, implementing energy-efficient technology requirements or utilizing more renewable energy. While the proposed rule will regulate carbon emissions from all existing power plants in the U.S., the nation’s 600 coal plants will be hit the hardest. Coal is responsible for nearly 40 percent of American energy production.