Press Releases

Congressman Larry Bucshon (IN-08) released the following comment in regards to the Federal Court of Appeals’ decision to place a stay on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

Congressman Bucshon (IN-08) states:

“I am pleased that the federal courts have issued a stay on the EPA’s costly Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.  In September, I cosponsored and voted for the Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act to prevent this onerous regulation from taking effect and burdening Hoosiers.  This rule would have cost millions of jobs nationwide and billions of dollars that Hoosiers would have paid through higher utility bills.  The EPA needs to reexamine rules on energy they create at the expense of individuals and job creators.”

Background:

CSAPR was supposed to take effect on January 1, 2012 and would have required power plants in 27 states to make additional reductions to emissions.

Thomas W. Easterly, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, wrote an Op-Ed, “EPA strong-arming unneeded air rules,” on December 22, 2010 that highlighted the negative impact of CSAPR.  Below are some excerpts, the full op-ed can be read here.

“Many states, electricity providers and unions have asked for reconsideration of this excessive regulation because of concerns over projected electricity shortages, job losses and increases in electricity rates expected to result from efforts needed to meet these new requirements. The increased costs will be passed on to Americans already struggling to make ends meet.

Potential job losses extend beyond power plants that may have to cut back operations or even shut down. Many coal-fired power plants will have to drastically reduce their use of locally mined coal. This will negatively affect employment of local coal miners and other ancillary jobs created to support the industry.”

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