GOP lawmakers flame Biden admin for 'catastrophic' coal power plant crackdown

WASHINGTON (TND) — Several GOP lawmakers flamed the Biden administration Thursday for a “reckless" new initiative focused on clean energy.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday announced four new rules for fossil fuel use. These rules aim to tighten regulations and reduce “dangerous pollution.”

Under the new rules, the EPA will force coal power plants to almost completely eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions by 2039. Coal is still used to generate about 18% of electricity produced in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration.

Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Ohio, decried the regulations, claiming they pose the potential to severely harm the U.S.

The EPA’s latest rule is nothing short of catastrophic for our electric grid and disastrous for our energy security,” Rep. Balderson wrote. “These rules aren’t meant to address the emissions of coal- and natural gas-fired plants. Rather, they are designed to force fossil fuel power plants into early retirement and block the construction of new plants, reducing our baseload energy and creating unprecedented grid reliability issues.”

Also speaking out was Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., who accused the president of not learning his lesson after similar regulations were shot down by the Supreme Court.

“President Biden learned nothing from the Supreme Court’s landmark West Virginia vs. EPA decision and is again trying to circumvent the law by mandating unrealistic standards in the hopes of shutting down coal generation,” Sen. Cramer wrote. “These rulemakings will result in a more fragile electrical grid at a time America can least afford it.”

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Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., also voiced concerns, claiming the regulations are unrealistic for energy producers.

With the latest iteration of the illegal Clean Power Plan 2.0 announced today, President Biden has inexplicably doubled down on his plans to shut down the backbone of America’s electric grid through unachievable regulatory mandates.”

The new rule follows a district court ruling this month preventing the Federal Highway Administration from enforcing a Biden administration climate rule requiring states to set goals for reducing vehicle emissions.

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