Legislation offered by U.S. Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its proposal to force the closure of coal- and gas-fired power plants on Nov. 3 passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a larger bill.
“Today’s action by the House demonstrates yet again that the Biden Administration is pursuing politics through regulation that would not pass in Congress,” Sen. Capito said on Friday. “We will continue our efforts to protect West Virginia from the Biden Administration’s overreach.”
“This is a win for West Virginia and the United States as we prioritize U.S. energy policies and our coal- and gas-fired power plants fuel the United States,” said Rep. Miller.
The Protect our Power Plants (POPP) Act of 2023, H.R. 4038/S. 1923, received House approval as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, H.R. 4821.
Rep. Miller said the larger bill aims to protect U.S. energy plants, bolster the nation’s energy independence, and stop President Joe Biden’s Green New Deal agenda from destroying America’s energy dominance.
“Republicans in Congress are once again defending American energy production,” Rep. Miller said on Nov. 3. “Sen. Capito and I are focused on promoting American energy policies that will ensure West Virginia remains an energy dominant state for years to come.”
The POPP Act, added the congresswoman, “is a needed check on Washington Democrats’ radical environmental policies and promotes American energy production.”
Sen. Capito noted that the Biden administration’s Clean Power Plan 2.0 makes it clear that Democrats intend to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in West Virginia v. EPA, and increase energy costs for millions of Americans.
“In the face of this illegal overreach, Congresswoman Miller and I introduced the Protect Our Power Plants Act to stand up for workers and families in energy-producing communities across the country, including those in West Virginia,” said Sen. Capito.
If enacted, the larger H.R. 4821 would provide appropriations for numerous federal agencies; cut wasteful Washington spending; prioritize funding for public safety, critical operations, and maintenance programs; limit the reach of the EPA; restrict abuse of the Endangered Species Act; and protect domestic oil and gas production, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The House voted 213-203 to approve H.R. 4821, which now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.