WASHINGTON – June 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Mark Takai (HI-01) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 2042 the Ratepayer Protection Act of 2015 that would weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) effort to curb carbon pollution from existing power plants:
“We need to start taking immediate action to combat climate change before we irreparably damage our environment. The bill passed today will postpone the implementation of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a strategy to begin reigning in the carbon pollution by existing power plants. This delay could last years and also potentially burden the EPA with tremendous legal costs, effectively stopping any attempts at carbon emission reform. The bill also allows Governors to opt out of the regulations proposed by the EPA, undermining the ability of the federal government to enact real change. This type of thinking threatens the long-term environmental security and health of our nation. It is time to put the people first, not special interests,” Takai said.
H.R. 2042 delays the EPA’s implementation of the Clean Power Plan, a set of rules to reduce emissions at existing electric power plants that are expected to be finalized later this summer. The Clean Power Plan would require states, territories, and Indian tribes to develop and meet individual goals for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity sector. H.R. 2042 delays the implementation of the forthcoming EPA carbon emissions reduction rules until any legal challenges are complete.
Additionally, the bill would allow states to opt out of developing an emissions reduction plan if their governor certifies that creating one would cause a “significant adverse effect” on electricity ratepayers in their state or on the reliability of the state’s electricity system. The House passed H.R. 2042 with a vote of 247-180. The President has issued a veto threat on this legislation.
