Whitfield introduces Congressional Review Act Resolutions on EPA Clean Power Plan

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), who serves as the chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee, introduced on Monday two Congressional Review Act resolutions contesting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Clean Power Plan, which regulates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new and existing power plants using fossil fuels.

“There’s nothing in the Clean Air Act that authorizes EPA to implement these unprecedented rules,” Whitfield said. “Just last week witnesses testified before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power regarding the regulations’ legal flaws and 26 states have already filed legal challenges.”

Whitfield’s dual resolutions apply to the rules regulating new and existing power plants, section 111 (b) and 111 (d), respectively, and his announcement says companion resolutions from the senate are likely.

The EPA’s regulations, which were published in the Federal Register on October 23, have been criticized for their potential to affect energy rates and efficiency and for setting state-specific emissions goals without approval from Congress.

“An EPA takeover of the electricity sector is a recipe for higher bills, reduced reliability, and job losses,” Whitfield said. “These resolutions stand up for ratepayers, jobs, and affordable energy in Kentucky and throughout the country.”