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Today, the current Administration launched its latest assault on the U.S. energy industry.  Specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new regulatory rules governing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.  Upon learning of the new mandates, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), who serves as Chairman of the House Natural Resources National Parks, Forests and Public Lands subcommittee, issued the following statement:

“The Administration chose to impose this new regulatory mandate by executive fiat because it knows that it would be very unlikely that Congress, on behalf of the American people, would support such an egregious overstep of federal control.  This policy is nothing more than President Obama’s latest effort to win favor with his anti-coal special interest group allies. 

“Picking winners and losers does a grave disservice to consumers and producers in this country.  Costs go up and the number of jobs goes down, which seems to be indicative of far too many policies championed by the President and his cabinet.  As a result of the EPA’s new policy, the exorbitant costs required to implement these new rules and mandates will be passed on to consumers who are already paying their fair share when it comes to energy bills. 

“As things stand in Utah, our rural electric industry is already doing what it can to keep prices affordable while working to comply with a host of previous mandates handed down by the Administration.  These new rules will only make matters worse and will ultimately force companies to increase their costs to cover the financial burden imposed by the Administration’s new rules and regulations.  While the increase costs may not have a huge impact on some households, the majority of Americans in this country are already stretching each dollar as far as it will go.”