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U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today issued the following statement criticizing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to prevent construction of new coal-fired power plants, the result of the agency’s New Source Performance Standard (NSPS) rule:

“Today’s announcement by the EPA represents a direct attack on the American consumer, affordable electricity, and the economic security of Pennsylvanians. Developing our abundant coal resources while safeguarding the environment and the nation’s economic health is the only path we can take to obtain energy security. Unfortunately, the President’s plan to eliminate coal as a source of energy in this country, through mandates that are impossible to meet, moves us in the opposition direction.

“This action is a blatant attempt by the Obama Administration to bankrupt the coal industry, which provides almost 44% of power generation in the commonwealth, and will lead to higher utility rates for Pennsylvanians and impose harm upon local economies across the country. This is a gross regulatory overreach that will have devastating consequences, and I will be working in the House to prevent implementation of this harmful regulation.”

In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama, in forecasting his administration’s policy on coal, stated the following: “So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”

After previous legislative proposals were rejected by the Democratic-led Senate, the President in June of 2013 announced his plans to unilaterally impose new energy regulations, including far-reaching mandates on coal-fired power plants, as announced today by EPA.