On the recordMarch 5, 2014
The underlying bill, H.R. 3826, is a radical rewrite of the Clean Air Act. It effectively repeals the EPA's existing authority to address carbon pollution from coal-powered plants. It says that EPA cannot set a standard for new plants unless the standard is already being met by power plants using technologies that can achieve that standard. Well, why would any power plant want to spend the money to use technology to achieve a standard that their competitors do not have to achieve? So it is a chicken and egg problem. You cannot require them to do what they are not already doing. Well, this amendment goes a step further and it says, for natural gas-fired power plants, they shouldn't have to do anything that they are not already doing either. They would block EPA from requiring natural gas-fired power plants to install pollution controls. The problem is, EPA's current proposal for new natural gas plants doesn't require any pollution control technology. EPA is going to set a standard, and then let that standard be achieved however the industry would accomplish it. So this amendment would preemptively block EPA from ever considering rules that might further reduce carbon pollution from any future power plants, whether they be coal or natural gas. I think it makes no sense. It is a disaster for the climate. I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
