Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed revision of the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule that imposes costly and duplicative Obama-era regulations targeting coal-fired electric power plants. When first advanced in 2012, this rule contributed to the closure of numerous power plants, before being struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015.
The Biden administration has now revived this rule utilizing the same justification that was rejected by the Supreme Court. The regulations would replace the existing cost-effective standards, which have already been found to protect human health and safety and were put into place under the Trump administration following an eight-year technology review.
“From day one, President Biden has taken the wrong approach to energy development in the U.S., resulting in skyrocketing energy costs for American consumers and historic inflation,” said Hoeven. “Our electrical grid cannot afford to lose the reliable and affordable baseload power provided by coal-fired power plants. Instead of costly and duplicative mandates like this new MATS rule, the Biden administration should work with us to advance new technology and innovations that allow our nation to utilize all of our nation’s abundant energy resources, including our coal, oil and gas reserves, while maintaining good environmental stewardship.”
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