Rep. McKinley Fights for Survival of American Coal Plants Threatened by New EPA Regulations

Statement

A hearing was conducted yesterday by the Energy and Power Subcommittee on Rep. David B. McKinley's bill, H.R. 6172, to prohibit the EPA from finalizing its proposed New Source Performance Standards.

The bill would prohibit the EPA from finalizing any rule imposing new carbon dioxide emissions standards on power plants until carbon capture storage (CCS) is proven to be technologically and economically feasible. Carbon capture storage is designed to prevent the release of large quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere from fossil fuel use in power generation and other industries.

"The Obama Administration and EPA have imposed a regulation on new coal-fired power plants that, simply put, cannot be achieved," said Rep. McKinley. "The carbon capture and sequestration technology required is not commercially viable. Even EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson admitted that CCS was not yet achievable on a "large scale'. This has not stopped them from imposing this rule, which will prevent the construction of any new coal fired plants."

"At the same time they are requiring these new standards, President Obama slashed research money into clean coal technology in his budget," said Rep. McKinley. "This continues to be another manifestation of this administration's war on coal," said Rep. McKinley.

"We've seen Energy Secretary Steven Chu say that coal is his worst nightmare and Vice President Joe Biden saying that we will not invest in clean coal technologies. It seems that President Obama, following through on a campaign promise, is trying his hardest to bankrupt the coal industry."

At Thursday's hearing, a panel of experts testified before the Subcommittee including utility company executives, a representative with the United Mine Workers, academic experts and environmental consultants.

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