REGIONAL – North Dakota’s Governor and elected members of the U.S. House and Senate are applauding the EPA’s proposal that seeks to repeal Biden-era power plant regulations.
“This is what smart federal regulatory reform looks like,” Armstrong said. “It’s refreshing to finally have a regulatory agency that takes input from the people who produce what the world needs – and allows them to do it better than anyone else while protecting the environment.”
“We thank Administrator Zeldin and the Trump administration for supporting common-sense regulation and unleashing U.S. energy production to hold down costs for consumers and strengthen national security.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its proposal to repeal two burdensome Biden-era power plant regulations known as “Clean Power Plan 2.0” and Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS).
The Clean Power Plan 2.0 regulations set emissions standards for new fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Obama-Biden Administration in 2015, and another in 2024 for new and existing fossil fuel-fired power plants issued during the Biden-Harris Administration.
The MATS repeals proposal would revert back to 2012 standards that have driven sharp reductions in harmful air toxic pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants.
Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak highlighted the impact of the rules on North Dakota.
“These rules were crushing to North Dakota’s energy and power industry and to the cause of reliable, affordable power in our country,” Fedorchak said
Senator John Hoeven says the action is a ‘win’ for energy.
“Today’s action by the EPA is a win for U.S. energy dominance and supports continued access to the affordable and reliable baseload power provided by coal,” said Hoeven.
Senator Kevin Cramer pointed to North Dakota’s leading in the energy sector.
“In North Dakota, we mine lignite coal and produce very reliable, long-term, steady electricity at a low cost,” said Cramer.
