House subcommittee passes 2 resolutions to roll back EPA carbon rules

Dive Brief:

The Energy and Power Subcommittee has passed two resolutions sponsored by its chairman, Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and aimed at rolling back new carbon regulations for new and existing power plants.
Whitfield, who has called the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a "rogue political arm of the White House," said the measures would protect ratepayers and grid reliability.
More than two dozen states have challenged the Clean Power Plan, which regulates carbon emissions from existing power plants, in court, and 23 states have sued to stop its separate regulatory package for new and modified plants. The White House has threatened to veto any legislation that would undo the rules.

Dive Insight:

The Clean Power Plan has been finalized, dozens of energy companies and states have filed court challenges, and many observers expect a long legal battle ahead that will ultimately lead to the U.S. Supreme Court. But conservative lawmakers are still working to roll back the carbon limits through the legislative process, despite the veto threat, highlighting the all-hands-on-deck mentality of the moment for backers of coal-fired generation.

“These rules will produce not only higher electric rates, but also pose threats to electricity reliability and result in a substantial loss of jobs," Whitfield said in a statement following the subcommittee vote. "In my view, the discrepancy between what EPA is trying to do and what the Clean Air Act actually allows is so wide that these resolutions are appropriate."

The subcommittee passed two resolutions, H.J. Res 71 and H.J. Res 72, which would disapprove two final rules issued by the EPA. Whitfield explained the resolutions would provide for Congressional disapproval of each rule, and that if passed then the rules would have no force or effect.

About half the states have signed on to a legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan. "This extraordinary level of opposition is telling given that EPA claims they collaborated with the states," Whitfield said. "These resolutions of disapproval offer an opportunity to restore the rule of law and protect ratepayers across the country.”

Argus reports that similar proposals have been filed in the Senate, but that no action has been scheduled yet. While Democrats are expected to vote against the proposals, the news outlet reported that a few have signed on as co-sponsors.

While the emissions regulations stir plenty of controversy on the Hill, the American public seems more comfortable with them. Recent polling has shown that a clear majority of Americans, including a plurality of GOP voters, support the carbon reduction rules.