Wyoming Officials React to EPA’s Proposed Carbon Rule

In response to regulations proposed friday by the Environmental Protection Agency on carbon emissions from new coal-fired power plants, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis joined several house colleagues in introducing the "Ensure Reliable and Affordable Energy Act."

Lummis says the EPA proposal would require all new coal-fired power plants to have carbon emissions capturing and sequestration systems that are not currently available in the marketplace. She says the regulations proposed by the EPA are a de facto ban on new coal-fired power plants in the U.S., which would then drive up the cost of electricity throughout the nation.

The proposed House bill would require that 80% of non U. S. global carbon emissions sources be regulated before carbon emissions regulations impacting fossil fuel power plants in the U. S. are enacted. Governor Matt Mead said the standards for coal-fired power in the proposed rule are unachievable and stop development of clean-coal technologies.

Meanwhile, upon hearing about the proposed EPA rule, Senator's Mike Enzi and John Barrasso joined  Sen. Mitch McConnell in immediately filling a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to stop the EPA from imposing its new regulations. Enzi said the resolution will help ensure a vote to repeal the regulation.