Electric Co-op Today

Co-ops are throwing their support behind legislation introduced March 3 on Capitol Hill to halt the Obama administration’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Rep. Fred Upton

NRECA CEO Glenn English praised companion measures in the House and Senate that would block Environmental Protection Agency action on greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and let Congress decide the issue instead.

“NRECA has long argued that the Clean Air Act was never intended to regulate CO2 and other greenhouse gases,” English said. “NRECA has consistently supported efforts to pre-empt the use of the Clean Air Act to regulate CO2 emissions, particularly from stationary sources, and will continue to do so.”

The bills were introduced by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Called the Energy Tax Prevention Act, the legislation repeals EPA’s December 2009 determination that greenhouse gases represent a threat to public health and safety, and bars the agency from taking any regulatory actions on greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

English said the bills address a key association concern—that overzealous EPA regulation will lead to high compliance costs and higher bills for co-op members.

“Both Chairman Upton and Sen. Inhofe recognize that keeping electric bills affordable is essential as we restore our nation’s diminished economic capacity, and we support their efforts,” English said.

The plans do not affect state-run plans to deal with greenhouse gases, and let stand through 2016 an agreement between EPA and automakers on carbon dioxide standards. The act is limited in scope, targeting greenhouse gas regulation by EPA, and does not address more pressing needs, such as additional flexibility in meeting other new EPA requirements, English said.

Several Democrats cosponsored the bill in the Republican-controlled house, including Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., the ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

All 42 cosponsors in the Democrat-controlled Senate are Republicans, according to a statement from Inhofe’s office.

“Enacting such legislation will take a bipartisan effort in Congress, and we urge members of both parties, in both the House and Senate, to work together to craft a plan that can garner the votes to pass and not simply treat this issue as a political football—it is too important,” English said.

Tags: Cap and Trade, Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas, Legislation, Obama Administration