NTU urges all Representatives to vote “YES” on H.R. 3826, the “Electricity Security and Affordability Act.” This legislation would rein in and help to reestablish economic sanity to costly Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules, as well as work to maintain an “all of the above” electricity generation portfolio.
In September 2013 the EPA proposed standards that leave prospective developers of new coal-fired power plants in a very difficult position. Effectively they must adopt technologies like carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) now or forego their plans, threatening jobs in a critical industry. Consumers, too, will be hurt by the new standard. According to the CBO, CCS could raise the price of electricity 75 percent over traditional coal-fired plants.
Strangely, though the proposed rule is aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, it states, “The EPA projects that this proposed rule will result in negligible CO2 emission changes, quantified benefits, and costs by 2022.” The risk of lost jobs and increased costs for consumers is a high price to pay for “negligible” benefits.
In response to this latest EPA power-grab, H.R. 3826 puts in place common-sense checks and balances that restore accountability in the rule-making process by establishing new guidelines for future power plants, repealing earlier proposed rules, and fostering more Congressional oversight over regulations for existing facilities..
Roll call votes on H.R. 3826 will be included in NTU’s annual Rating of Congress and a “YES” vote will be considered the pro taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift at (703) 683-5700