Cramer Helps Introduce Legislation to Halt Devastating New Coal Regulations

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today Congressman Kevin Cramer continued his efforts to halt devastating new coal regulations which would affect 17,000 jobs, $3.5 billion in economic impact, and $100 million in tax revenue provided by the lignite coal industry in North Dakota. Cramer helped introduce bipartisan legislation this afternoon to ensure affordable and reliable electric generation.

Drafted by Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield (Kentucky) and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (West Virigina) with Congressman Cramer as an original cosponsor, the bill stops impending greenhouse gas regulations until certain conditions are met. The proposed standards for new power plants must be shown achievable for a continuous 12-month period by at least six electric generating units at different plants including a subcategory for at least three lignite facilities, and separate standards must be created for coal, natural gas, and lignite coal. For existing plants, the bill requires Congressional approval of the regulation and the submission of a report to Congress describing the regulation, its economic impact, and effects on global greenhouse gas emissions before it may go into effect.

"Today's legislation proves the protection of affordable energy sources for the American people is a bipartisan priority. This is a reasonable approach requiring the EPA to set power plant standards which are actually achievable under current technology, and grants Congress, not bureaucrats, the ultimate authority over significant new rules which will affect the lives of every American citizen," said Cramer.

The legislation is supported by numerous organizations including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the United Mine Workers of America.

Congressman Cramer is pressing EPA Administrator McCarthy to hold a public listening session on the proposed regulations in Bismarck, and is a cosponsor of legislation blocking foreign travel by the Administrator until sessions are held in each of the top 15 coal reliant states. Administrator McCarthy traveled to China in December while Cramer and other colleagues were calling for an explanation of the EPA's failure to record the listening sessions for the public. The EPA concluded a series of 11 sessions in November which bypassed all ten states most reliant on coal generated electricity.

Prior to his election to the United States House of Representatives, Cramer served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission. During his tenure, beginning in 2003, Cramer dealt with all aspects of the Commission's portfolio including regulation of North Dakota's three investor owned utilities and management of North Dakota's Surface Mine Coal Reclamation Act State primacy program.

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