Miller's Statement on the Bicameral Resolution to Block Biden's Plan to Close American Power Plants
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) and 137 of her House colleagues in introducing a formal challenge to the Biden administration’s regulations intended to shut down American power plants through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval.
“The final power plant ruling from the EPA is a slap in the face to American energy producers. In the name of combatting climate change, Joe Biden has been determined to destroy American made coal and natural gas. I’ve introduced legislation to protect West Virginia and the United States from President Biden’s war on domestic energy, and I am disappointed the administration continues to dismantle American energy production. This rule is a death sentence for our power plants, and the Biden administration is now unnecessarily forcing the United States to depend on our adversaries for energy sources we should be producing ourselves. This CRA is essential to overturn the rules that will end American coal and natural gas production,” said Congresswoman Miller.
The resolution comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its finalrules that impose unrealistic emissions requirements on existing coal-fired power plants and newly constructed gas-fired power plants. This attempt to force the closure of power plants that supply America’s baseload electricity was previously tried under President Obama and overturned by the Supreme Court in West Virginia v. EPA.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led 43 of her colleagues in introducing an identical resolution in the United States Senate.
Click here for text of the resolution.
Background:
- The EPA finalized the Power Plant Rule on April 25th, 2024, which will create a devastating impact on our electric grid, current coal-fired power plants, new natural-gas fired power plants, and U.S. energy production. Congresswoman Miller released a statement of strong disapproval of the final rule.
- These rules are in violation of the Clean Air Act and will increase energy prices, the cost of living for Americans, and will shut down the majority of U.S. coal producers by 2032.
- In June 2023, Congresswoman Miller and Senator Capito introduced the Protect Our Power Plants (POPP) Act, legislation to prevent the EPA from implementing the Clean Power Plan 2.0.
- Congresswoman Miller was also vocal about her opposition to the EPA’s decision to exclude gas-fired power plants from the rule and instead target coal-fired plants more aggressively.
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