Bill Johnson: Obama's EPA Must STOP Its Assault on Coal Jobs

Statement

Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) released the following statement today responding to a new disastrous regulation by President Obama's activist Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The new regulation will have a devastating impact on Ohio with the accelerated closure of coal-fired power plants and increased utility rates for small businesses and individuals.

"Enough is enough - President Obama's war on coal must end. Today's announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose its new Utility MACT regulation on coal-fired power plants is just one of the EPA's new utility regulations that are coming down the road, collectively known as the Train Wreck. This destructive new rule will have devastating effects here in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, because it will force the accelerated closure of the coal-fired Muskingum River Power Plant in Beverly, Ohio. Not only will the Train Wreck cost Southern Ohio 160 direct jobs, but it is the most expensive regulation that the EPA has ever mandated and these costs will ultimately be passed on to hard-working families in the form of higher utility rates," said Bill Johnson.

Bill Johnson added, "This disastrous new regulation will also cost indirect jobs related to the coal mining industry. It's pretty simple -- if there are fewer coal-fired power plants -- there is less demand for coal. The Obama Administration's contempt for the coal industry and the jobs that go with it is deeply troubling. It's clear that President Obama and his activist EPA are motivated by a radical environmental ideology -- the same ideology that is standing in the way of the Keystone XL Pipeline and the thousands of jobs that it would create. We can all agree that we want clean air, but at what cost. How about common sense regulations that DON'T cost our economy jobs."

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