Cochran Votes To Halt EPA "Clean Power" Rule As Senate Approves Resolutions Of Disapproval

Statement

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today voted in favor of two measures to turn back an Obama administration regulatory effort that would require Mississippi to result in higher energy prices and expensive compliance costs.

Cochran is an original cosponsor of two Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions of disapproval that would eliminate the regulations associated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Power Plan rule for existing, new and modified power plants. Both measures passed with bipartisan support. Both S.J.Res.23 and S.J.Res.24 were approved on 52-46 votes.

"The State of Mississippi and various electricity providers in our state have studied this federal regulatory plan and determined it would be harmful to our state. Simply put, the compliance costs and regulatory requirements far outweigh the purported benefits of the Clean Power Plan," Cochran said.

"I am pleased the Senate has approved resolutions of disapproval to stop the Clean Power Plan, which the Obama administration has pursued with little concern for its costs to families and businesses," he said.

Earlier this month, Mississippi became the 27th state to join a federal lawsuit challenging the final Clean Power Plan, which would require states to submit plans to control carbon dioxide emissions from existing, modified or new power plants. The plan is expected to cost states and ratepayers hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 15 years.

In July, all members of the Mississippi congressional delegation signed a letter to the EPA, the United States Department of Agriculture, and White House Office of Management and Budget calling for an investigation into whether carbon dioxide reduction goals associated with the Clean Power Plan are achievable at a reasonable cost. The delegation argued that the strict Clean Power Plan goals are prohibitively expensive and unattainable by Mississippi, despite significant investments to improve air quality in the state. (http://1.usa.gov/1JhekvQ)

In addition to the state, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Electric Power Associations and Tennessee Valley Authority are among the organizations that have cited concerns over the Clean Power Plan and support the Senate resolutions of disapproval.

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