Over the objection of Senate Democrats, President Trump signed an executive order beginning the rollback of the disastrous Obama-era Clean Power Plan. If implemented, the ill-advised plan would have cost tens of thousands of jobs, devastated the coal industry, and raised energy prices for American families.
- In 2015 American Action Forum estimated that, if implemented, the Clean Power Plan would have resulted in the loss of 125,800 American jobs.
- In addition to the lost jobs, these onerous regulations would have resulted in a 15% increase in annual energy costs for American families.
- States hit particularly hard would include those represented by 2018 Democrats, including Missouri (27%), Michigan (26%), Pennsylvania (25%), and Ohio (21%).
- Despite these devastating effects for American families, Senate Democrats have fought efforts to roll back the Clean Power Plan.
- Implementation of the Clean Power Plan has been delayed by the Supreme Court as lawsuits challenging its legality make their way through the federal courts.
“Despite the threat of tens of thousands of lost jobs, and soaring energy costs for American families, Senate Democrats have fought all efforts to roll back Obama’s disastrous energy regulations,” said NRSC Communications Director Katie Martin. “Today’s executive order will provide peace of mind for families across the country, who will no longer have to worry about being regulated out of jobs.”
Background:
The Clean Power Plan Would Have Added $8.4 Billion In Regulatory Costs, Forced The Closure Of At Least 66 Power Plants, And Eliminated 125,800 jobs. “Once published, the CPP will push total regulatory costs for the year past $145 billion. On an annualized basis, final rules have already imposed $4.8 billion in costs. However, the most expensive current measure (efficiency standards for fluorescent lamps) will add just $841 million in burdens. At $8.4 billion, the CPP is almost ten times more expensive than the most burdensome rule of 2015 to date. It is no wonder the measure will likely close at least 66 plants and eliminate 125,800 jobs.” (“EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Regulation Expects Coal Generation to Decline 48 Percent,” American Action Forum, 8/4/15)
Energy Market Impacts of Recent Federal Regulations On the Electric Power Sector (November 2014 Report, Energy Ventures Analysis)
In November 2015, The Senate Voted To Block Obama’s Clean Power Plan Regulations. “The Senate voted Tuesday to block a pair of regulations representing the central pillars of President Obama’s climate change initiative…Senators voted 52-46 to stop the carbon dioxide limits for existing power plants, which mandate a 32 percent cut in the power sector’s carbon emissions by 2030. The move to block the related carbon rule for newly built power plants passed by the same vote.” (Timothy Cama, “Senate Votes To Strike Down Key Obama Climate Rules,” The Hill, 11/17/15); (SJ Res 24, Roll Call Vote 306, 11/17/15); (S.J. Res 23, Roll Call Vote 307, 11/17/15)
In 2016, The United Stated Supreme Court Halted Implementation Of Clean Power Plan. “Tuesday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay, halting implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan pending the resolution of legal challenges to the program in court.” (Jonathan Adler, “Supreme Court puts the brakes on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan,” The Washington Post, 2/9/16)