05.09.24

Hoeven Pushing Back on Regulatory Blizzard Being Imposed on U.S. Energy Production by Biden Admin

Senator Calls Out Costly, Unworkable Rules that Lock Up Energy Resources, Increase Prices for U.S. Consumers

WASHINGTON – During remarks delivered on the floor of the U.S. Senate this week, Senator John Hoeven pushed back on harmful policies being advanced by the Biden administration restricting access to taxpayer-owned energy resources and increasing the cost of producing energy in the U.S. The senator stressed how such policies ultimately result in increased prices for consumers, while undermining the economic and national security of the U.S. and its allies. In particular, Hoeven called out the following costly, unworkable rules being imposed by:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  • Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule.
  • Clean Power Plan 2.0.
  • Water Discharge Rule.
  • Coal Ash Rule.
  • Methane Rule & Natural Gas Tax.

The U.S. Department of the Interior

  • Public Lands Rule.
    • Hoeven is introducing a CRA resolution of disapproval with Senator John Barrasso to block the rule.
  • North Dakota Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP).
    • The draft RMP would close off leasing to 45 percent of federal oil and gas acreage and 95 percent of federal coal acreage in North Dakota.
    • Hoeven recently pressed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to rescind the draft RMP and preserve access to taxpayer-owned minerals in the state.
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Onshore Oil and Gas Rule.
  • BLM Venting and Flaring Rule.
  • National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Rule.

“Simply put, energy prices are high because demand is outpacing supply, and Americans are being forced to pay higher prices at the pump and higher utility bills. And because the cost of energy is built into nearly every good and service across the economy, higher energy prices are fueling persistent inflation. Instead of bringing more supply online to reduce prices, the Biden administration is imposing a regulatory blizzard that seeks to curtail energy production,” said Hoeven.

“It starts with the EPA, which is imposing new costly, unworkable mandates specifically designed to reduce traditional energy production. Just two weeks ago, the EPA finalized four new regulations targeting the power sector… Collectively, these EPA rules will require the power sector to spend billions of dollars to comply with these regulations, or worse, force the premature retirement of reliable coal-fired baseload power plants.

“On top of the EPA’s regulatory onslaught, this blizzard is continuing at the Interior Department, which manages 245 million acres of public lands and 700 million acres of subsurface minerals. Our vast taxpayer-owned energy reserves are a national strategic asset, ensuring our nation remains energy dominant. Why then is the Biden administration doing everything it can to seemingly lock away access to our taxpayer-owned energy reserves?

“The goal of the Biden administration’s regulatory blizzard is clear – it’s a “keep-it-in-the-ground” or Green New Deal agenda, no matter the economic or geopolitical costs. There is a better approach, and it is taking the handcuffs off our energy producers and unleashing the full potential of our nation’s most valuable strategic asset – our abundant oil, gas and coal reserves.”

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