Thompson joins effort to rescind EPA power rule

U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) recently joined approximately 100 other lawmakers in signing a letter to President Barack Obama that outlines concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources.

The letter spells out a number of concerns about how the rule would adversely affect the efficiency of America’s sources of electrical power.

“Due to market factors and existing environmental requirements, significant power plant shutdowns are already underway across the country,” the letter states. “Under the proposed rule, …  there would be additional power plant retirements and electricity rate increases.”

In short, the members of the movement fear the rule will drive up energy costs, which could be a critical problem for Americans, particularly the elderly and others living on fixed incomes or in poverty.

“The EPA’s new rule on electric power generation is yet another unworkable policy from the Obama administration that will threaten America’s access to affordable and reliable energy,” Thompson said. “While protecting the environment is a shared goal, this must be attained realistically and not by burdening families with rate hikes and potential brownouts. It is my hope the Obama administration will rescind this rule and work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to address the concerns that we’ve outlined.”