Capito joins opposition to new EPA carbon rules

WASHINGTON — Both U.S. senators from West Virginia are now opposing the proposed new carbon pollution standard for power plants burning fossil fuels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced proposed standards Thursday that it says will protect health, reduce the amount of pollutants harmful to people and over 20 years provide $85 billion in climate and public health benefits.

However, the regulations will cause coal- and gas-fired power plants to close, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said on Thursday. Capito, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said she will lead efforts through the Congressional Review Act to overturn the standards.

“The Clean Power Plan 2.0 announced today is the Biden administration’s most blatant attempt yet to close down power plants and kill American energy jobs,” Capito said. “The EPA has already tried this illegal overreach, which was ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court, but not before it devastated communities in West Virginia and across the country.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., on Wednesday said he will oppose the new standards and not vote for any EPA nominee until the Biden Administration stops the “government overreach.”

The EPA Thursday said the proposed standards prevent millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution, prevent asthma attacks and prevent 1,300 premature deaths in 2030 alone.

“By proposing new standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, EPA is delivering on its mission to reduce harmful pollution that threatens people’s health and wellbeing,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said. “EPA’s proposal relies on proven, readily available technologies to limit carbon pollution and seizes the momentum already underway in the power sector to move toward a cleaner future. Alongside historic investment taking place across America in clean energy manufacturing and deployment, these proposals will help deliver tremendous benefits to the American people, cutting climate pollution and other harmful pollutants, protecting people’s health, and driving American innovation.”

Through 2042, the standards would for coal and new natural gas power plants would prevent as much as 617 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide, equivalent to reducing the annual emissions of 137 million passenger vehicles, about half the cars in the United States. EPA estimates the net climate and health benefits of the standards on new gas and existing coal-fired power plants are worth $85 billion.

The proposals also would cut tens of thousands of tons of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that are known to endanger people’s health, the EPA said.