Enzi applauds environmental rollback for coal

Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi is praising a Trump Administration plan to roll back clean air regulations enacted during the Obama administration. Enzi said the rules essentially stopped new coal power plants from being constructed in the United States.

The new Environmental Protection Agency rule would lift requirements that tried to force newly-built coal power plants to use emission-cutting technology that has not been perfected for commercial use, Enzi said.

“Consistent with President Trump’s executive order promoting energy independence, EPA’s proposal would rescind excessive burdens on America’s energy providers and level the playing field so that new energy technologies can be a part of America’s future,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “By replacing onerous regulations with high, yet achievable, standards, we can continue America’s historic energy production, keep energy prices affordable, and encourage new investments in cutting-edge technology that can then be exported around the world.”

“It was no secret that the Obama Administration tried to use the EPA to regulate coal use out of existence,” Enzi said. “I am glad to see action is being taken to roll back one of the more outrageous regulations imposed. Coal plays a vital role in powering America due to its reliability as an energy source. There are a lot of challenges that still face the coal industry, but thanks to the Trump Administration, this would be one less hurdle.”

Enzi said 40 percent of the nation’s coal plants are planning or have announced plans to retire. If new coal-fire plants are not built, Enzi said the U.S. will lose a key source of reliable energy.

You can find the Trump Administration’s new EPA policy here.