House advances SENSE Act protecting coal refuse-to-energy facilities

The House recently advanced the Satisfying Energy Needs and Saving the Environment (SENSE) Act, H.R. 3797, which would prevent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations from blocking operations at the nation’s 19 coal refuse-to-energy facilities.

“Through American ingenuity, coal refuse-to-energy plants have been developed that actually use this harmful waste product to generate electricity,” U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee, said. “Unfortunately, there are two EPA rules targeting all coal-fired power plants that are causing some problems. The SENSE Act would allow these coal refuse-to-energy plants to continue operating, to the great benefit to the communities where these facilities are located.”

The Sense Act is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) and advanced with a vote of 231 to 183. Coal refuse-to-energy facilities recycle coal refuse to create affordable and reliable electricity, and in the process they help clean up the communities in which they are located. Two EPA regulations that denote emissions limits currently apply to these facilities and threaten their operations, which the SENSE Act seeks to protect.