Articles

Tomorrow, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ) will be putting forth two amendments to the Stop the War on Coal Act (H.R. 3409) that are aimed at protecting rural Arizona’s four coal-fired power plants: Navajo Generating Station (NGS) near Page, Coronado Generating Station (CGS) near St. Johns, the Cholla Power Plant near Joseph City, and the Apache Generating Station (AGS) near Willcox. 

Gosar to Introduce Amendments Protecting Arizona Power Plants
September 21, 2012
Votes are expected to take place tomorrow morning.
A live stream will be available here.

Regional Haze Regulatory Relief Amendment

Congressman Gosar (R-AZ), Congressman Berg (R-ND), Congressman Flake (R-AZ) and Congressman Lankford (R-OK) are introducing an amendment that would allow affected states to reject overreaching federal regulations for regional haze and replace them within two years with its own plan.

Even though the current law states that air pollution control and prevention is the primary responsibility of the States and local governments, the EPA recently rejected a carefully crafted plan developed by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.  The new federal plan threatens to shut down CGS, AGS, and the Cholla Power Plant, eliminating hundreds of jobs and increasing utility prices for an indiscernible improvement in visibility. 

Navajo Generating Station Amendment
Congressman Gosar will also put forth a provision that protects the Navajo Generating Station from overreaching EPA regulations.  

The NGS and the associated coal mine directly employs over 1,000 northern Arizonans with more than 80% being Native American. The plant powers the Central Arizona Project, the country’s largest aqueduct system, which delivers more than 500 billion gallons of Colorado River water to cities, towns, industries, Native American communities, and irrigation districts that serve more than 80% of Arizona’s population.