EPA Playing ‘Dangerous Game’ with Energy Prices, Jobs and National Security
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Bruce Josten issued the following statement today upon the release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants:
“With today’s proposed rule on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, EPA has once again shown that the administration’s ‘all of the above’ energy policy is really ‘some of the above.’ Today’s proposal could lead to higher energy costs that are bad for families and businesses.
“Having been thoroughly rejected by Congress, EPA is now attempting an end-around designed to place an indefinite ban on the construction of conventional coal-fired power plants in America. Coal is an essential part of a diverse, reliable, and affordable energy mix, supplying nearly 40 percent of our electricity. It remains a cost-effective and secure source of power in a time of soaring energy prices. The proposed rule could also affect natural gas generation, because several types of natural gas-fired generation plants may not meet EPA’s prescribed greenhouse gas emissions standards.
“EPA’s proposal is rife with legal and structural deficiencies that could ultimately allow the scope of the rule to expand well beyond the entities EPA seeks to regulate. Even worse, the agency has proposed this dubious new regulation while a legal cloud hangs over the fundamental question of whether it can regulate greenhouse gases at all.
“Today’s announcement is another in a long string of actions this administration has taken that weaken our energy security and raise energy prices. Given recent court decisions finding that EPA overreached—including three in the last week—the Chamber will be evaluating all of its options to overturn this rule if it is ultimately issued.”
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.