Pallone Decries Bill to Gut EPA Clean Power Plan

Press Release

Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, voted against and decried the so called "Ratepayer Protection Act." The legislation would effectively gut the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan by allowing states to opt out of state or federal carbon emissions plans.

Pallone also offered an amendment to the bill requiring Governors to confirm their belief in human-induced climate change in order to opt out of the plan. Specifically, the amendment would require Governors who want to opt out of the plan to first certify that the State or Federal plan would "promote national security, economic growth and public health by addressing human induced climate change through the increased use of clean energy, energy efficiency and reductions in carbon pollution." This amendment was previously approved by the Senate with Republican support.

"This poorly conceived bill is part of the Republicans' "Just Say No' attitude towards any effort to address climate change and their ongoing attack on clean air and the EPA," said Congressman Pallone. "One of the worst elements is that it allows governors to simply refuse to comply with the law despite the will of their state's legislature. In New Jersey, we have seen first-hand the detrimental impacts Governor Christie's decision to leave a program that would help reduce carbon pollution, support economic development, and help the state comply with the Clean Power Plan."

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