Cramer Encouraged by Affordable Clean Energy Rule Proposal

Statement

Congressman Kevin Cramer made the following comments on the Trump Administration's proposal, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, to replace the Clean Power Plan rule.

The Obama-era Clean Power Plan issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires North Dakota's existing power plants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent which would have caused 11 percent annual electricity price increases through 2031 and multiple coal-fired power plant closures.

The Trump Administration says the ACE rule will result in significantly lower electricity prices than the Clean Power Plan and carbon dioxide emissions will continue to decline. The ACE rule also remains within the provisions of the Clean Air Act. Twenty-seven states and numerous stakeholders filed legal challenges against the Obama Administration rule and successfully received an unprecedented stay by the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the rule while litigation proceeded.

"The Clean Power Plan was a clear overstep of authority by EPA, and I am pleased President Trump took action against this rule," said Cramer. "This Administration has shown its support for ours and other energy-rich states who are not best represented by unelected bureaucrats in Washington. The ACE rule promotes energy dominance without targeting the elimination of certain power sources. No doubt environmentalists will file litigation against this rule which is another instance to demonstrate the importance of confirming President Trump's Supreme Court nominees, including Brett Kavanaugh. I will continue to review the unfolding information and listen to multitude of stakeholders to ensure consumers affordable, reliable energy with excellent environmental performance."

Cramer has frequently spoken against the Clean Power Plan and its harmful impact to North Dakota's industries and citizens. In 2016 he joined a group of Members in Congress in filing an amicus brief to support petitions filed by states seeking an overturn. He also co-sponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 2042, which passed in the House of Representatives, to ensure states would not have to comply with the Clean Power Plan until all legal challenges were completed while also providing an opt-out if a state's governor determined the rule would have a significant adverse effect on electricity ratepayers or reliability.

Source