Senators urge EPA to revise proposal that sets new standards for power plant emissions

A group of U.S. senators are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise a proposed rule on power plant emissions.

The proposal would set new emissions standards and limits for new gas-fired combustion turbines, existing coal, oil and gas-fired steam generating units, and certain existing gas-fired combustion turbines.

“We share the administration’s goal of responsibly reducing carbon emissions. However, we are concerned with the potential unintended consequences of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently proposed rule on power plant emissions … We encourage you to strengthen this proposal by working with stakeholders from labor and industry to build consensus prior to putting forward a final rule that accomplishes our shared goals of maintaining affordable, reliable power; protecting American energy independence; protecting jobs; and lowering emissions,” the senators wrote to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.

The letter was signed by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Jon Tester (D-MT).

“Recently, Congress has worked in a bipartisan manner to pass important laws advancing American innovation through promising technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture, and advanced nuclear to create additional pathways to achieve a clean energy future. Unfortunately, EPA’s recent power plant rule overestimates the current and anticipated maturity of these promising technologies, to the detriment of American workers and consumers. While we hope these technologies will be available in the near future, we cannot ask our constituents to bear the cost of that risk in the form of significantly higher utility bills and unreliable electricity. A final EPA power plant rule must reflect these realities and rely on the proven technology as we continue to pursue innovation, commercialization, and technological breakthroughs,” the senators added.

They concluded by urging the EPA to consult with stakeholders from both industry and labor to ensure that the final rule protects jobs, ensures electric reliability and affordability, and makes the U.S. a global leader in combatting greenhouse gas emissions.