Johnson, Bucshon praise EPA’s new Affordable Clean Energy rule

U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for issuing the final Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule on June 19 to replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP).

“The current leadership at the EPA understands we can have smart environmental regulations and protect coal jobs and our economy at the same time,” Rep. Johnson said. “This new rule … will help protect the good-paying jobs that so many hardworking families depend on by officially repealing the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and will allow states and agencies like the Ohio EPA to do their own enforcement as opposed to being subjected to an overreaching Washington, D.C., bureaucracy.”

The ACE rule establishes emissions guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) at their coal-fired power plants, according to the EPA, which said states will have three years to submit their plans. The rule also includes new implementing regulations for ACE and guidelines to inform states as they set unit-specific standards of performance, the EPA said.

“Those of us that live and work in areas experiencing energy development know what works best for our environment and the livelihood of our people,” said Rep. Johnson. “We all share the same goal of wanting to breathe clean air and drink clean water, but we must do it in a responsible way.”

Rep. Johnson added that he thinks the federal government should be a partner in progress rather than a barrier to energy development.

“That’s what we are getting today and what we didn’t get from the Obama administration,” he said. “During the 2016 campaign, President Trump made ending the war on coal a major component of his platform and he’s keeping that promise.”

Rep. Bucshon also said he was pleased to see President Donald Trump take this action to replace the CPP.

“President Trump’s Affordable Clean Energy Rule gives power back to the states, incentivizes private investment in new, cleaner technologies, and aims to reduce CO2, mercury and ozone precursors from coal-fired electric generation,” said Rep. Bucshon. “The Affordable Clean Energy Rule helps to strengthen our energy independence while protecting the environment and ensures a more reliable and resilient energy grid for all Hoosiers.”