Congressman Austria Introduces House Resolution Condemning Job Killing EPA Regulation

Press Release

Congressman Steve Austria (R -- Beavercreek) introduced House Resolution 606 in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent proposed regulation on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants.

"During this difficult economy, hard working Americans and small businesses are struggling to make it and cannot afford higher energy costs from this burdensome regulation. Government, and in particular, the EPA continues to over-reach its authority by imposing unnecessary, burdensome regulations that are hurting small businesses and killing jobs," said Congressman Austria.

Coal is the largest source of the United States power generation and the state of Ohio uses roughly 80% of its power from coal. This proposed rule is the first-ever to limit carbon dioxide emissions, creating a reliance on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) for those companies that seek to build new coal power plants. There are no commercial-scale CCS projects operating in the country at this time.

"The regulatory crusade being launched by this Administration is unacceptable. In 2012 alone, the Administration and other unaccountable federal bureaucrats have published over 800 final rules. These new regulations cost industry and taxpayers billions, if not trillions, of dollars each year during a time when Americans can least afford additional increases in the cost of energy. This Administration should be focused on developing a comprehensive energy policy to bring down energy and gas prices and help reinvigorate our economy," Congressman Austria concluded.

Below is the text for House Resolution 606:

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the notice signed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Lisa Jackson on March 27, 2012, entitled "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units".

Resolved,That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Americans rely on coal and the inexpensive energy it provides for nearly half of their energy needs; the proposed rule entitled "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions for New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" will likely lead to increased energy costs for consumers, small business owners, and manufacturers which would result in the loss of American jobs; make American businesses less competitive; and damage our Nation's economic recovery; and the Environmental Protection Agency should not be setting energy policy for the Nation with environmental regulations that for all practical purposes dictate fuel choices for new power plants.

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