Manchin Encourages West Virginians to Submit Concerns to Federal Register on EPA Carbon Emissions Rule
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today encouraged West Virginians to submit their concerns to the Federal Register regarding the new Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule that limits carbon dioxide emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. The Federal Register serves as a federal portal where all Americans can voice their comments before any federal government agency’s proposed rule can be implemented.
Senator Manchin writes, in part: “The EPA has proposed rules that are not based on any existing technology that has been proven on a commercial scale. That is why we must continue to invest in innovative technologies, including clean coal and natural gas technologies, to ensure our energy supply remains accessible, affordable and reliable for all Americans. Our great country should be a leader in developing the technologies so that we can export them to the world, but it is unreasonable to require the use of technologies that do not yet work at the commercial scale.
“I have said again and again that the federal government needs to work as an ally, not as an adversary, when it comes to developing our nation’s energy policies. We need EPA to develop commonsense solutions that strike a balance between a prosperous economy and a cleaner environment…We should confront our challenges together as Americans and as the world leaders we always have been. We’re going to find that balance and show not only America, but the world, that we can look past our differences to better this planet.”
The EPA will be accepting comments on the Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule until December 1st, 2014. West Virginians who would like to submit a comment, please reference the Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602. To review the process on how to submit a comment, please see below.
Please read Senator Manchin’s full submission to the Federal Register below.
On June 2, the EPA proposed its rule to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants by 30 percent by 2030, from 2005 levels. One year after the rule is finalized, each state would be required to submit its plan to meet emission targets; if the EPA determines that a state’s plan would be ineffective in meeting those targets, it would develop a federal plan for that state.
Let me first say that there is no doubt that seven billion people have had an impact on our world’s climate; however, the proposed EPA rule does little to address the global problem with global solutions. Instead, it appears to be more about desirability rather than reliability or feasibility, with little regard for rising consumer prices, the effects on jobs, and the impact on the reliability of our electric grid. The President’s own Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts that coal will continue to provide nearly a third of our electricity through 2040, but the rule seems to ignore that reality.
The EPA has proposed rules that are not based on any existing technology that has been proven on a commercial scale. That is why we must continue to invest in innovative technologies, including clean coal and natural gas technologies, to ensure our energy supply remains accessible, affordable and reliable for all Americans. Our great country should be a leader in developing the technologies so that we can export them to the world, but it is unreasonable to require the use of technologies that do not yet work at the commercial scale.
Fossil fuel energy is vital to our nation’s economy and security. It will be a resource that our country depends on as we move forward – the EIA estimates that around 80 percent of our electricity will still come from fossil fuels more than 20 years from now. We must lead the world toward the time when fossil fuels burn cleaner until they can eventually provide minimal or no emissions at all. The world consumes more than 8 billion tons of coal per year, while the U.S. and Europe each burn less than one billion tons per year. The U.S. has already been a leader in proving to the world that we can produce coal cleaner today. Utilities and their providers have already reduced carbon emissions by 23 percent compared to 2005 levels, and are projected to reduce carbon emissions by an additional 15 percent by 2020. With the right policies and the right coordination between the public and private sectors, we can go much further.
I have said again and again that the federal government needs to work as an ally, not as an adversary, when it comes to developing our nation’s energy policies. We need EPA to develop commonsense solutions that strike a balance between a prosperous economy and a cleaner environment.
On June 25, I stood proudly with my good friend and colleague, Senator Whitehouse, on the Senate floor to discuss these very issues. Although Senator Whitehouse and I may not agree on many energy-related policies, we do agree that we cannot delay in working toward finding commonsense solutions to fixing these time-sensitive problems. We must establish an all-of-the-above energy policy that acknowledges the reality of climate change, while also understanding that fossil fuels – including coal – will be a vital part of our energy mix for decades to come. In fact, we have already identified specific policies that we plan to work on together. One such policy is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Title 17 loan guarantee program, which has had $8 billion in loan guarantees for advanced fossil energy projects. This money has been sitting around since 2005, and Senator Whitehouse and I plan to work on a proposal that requires the DOE to put those funds to use.
When it comes to deciding what’s best for our future generations and our beautiful earth, there is always room for reasonable compromise and a way forward. We should confront our challenges together as Americans and as the world leaders we always have been. We’re going to find that balance and show not only America, but the world, that we can look past our differences to better this planet.
To learn more about the Federal Register’s comment period process, please read below.
The EPA will be accepting comments on the Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule until December 1, 2014. If you would like to submit a comment, please reference the Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602. Comments may be submitted using one of the following methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking portal: Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
2. Email A-and-R-Docket@epa.gov: Include docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602 in the subject line of the message.
3. Fax: Fax your comments to: 202-566-9744.
4. Mail:
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC),
Mailcode 28221T, Attention Docket ID No. OAR–2013-0602,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
5. Hand Delivery or Courier to:
EPA Docket Center, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20460.
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