Johanns Sponsors Resolution against Administrations' Proposal to Increase Electricity Costs

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns (R- Neb.) today cosponsored a resolution expressing disapproval for an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that would increase electricity prices.

"We all understand and appreciate the need for a clean environment, but this rule fails to address emissions by other countries that pollute more and regulate less," Johanns said. "The rule amounts to a new national energy tax because it would drive up electricity production costs, which will be passed on to the consumer. The end result is American families and manufacturers are left with all the pain and no gain. Our resolution makes it clear that as the job market struggles to rebound and American families fight to make ends meet, this is the wrong policy at the wrong time."

The EPA regulation would require existing coal-fired power plants to reduce greenhouse gases 30 percent nationwide by 2030. This rule targets states like Nebraska, where 60 percent of our electricity is powered by coal and accounts for billions in economic activity according to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study. The high compliance costs with this regulation would largely fall on rate payers.

Earlier this year, Johanns sponsored legislation that would stop the new regulations until:

The Department of Labor certifies the proposed rule would not result in lost jobs;

The Congressional Budget Office certifies it would not harm our nation's economic growth; and,

The Department of Energy certifies EPA's proposal would not adversely impact electric rates or reliability.

Johanns also signed a letter with 40 of his colleagues asking President Obama to withdraw EPA's proposed rule.

Source