04.25.24

Hoeven Statement on Biden EPA MATS, Power Sector Rules Imposing Costly Regulations on Coal-Fired Electric

Senator to Lead Congressional Review Act Resolution to Block MATS Rule

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final regulations aimed at the nation’s power sector. This includes a new Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule that imposes costly and overly-stringent Obama-era regulations on coal-fired electric power plants. When first advanced in 2012, this rule contributed to the closure of numerous power plants before being struck down by the Supreme Court in 2015. Hoeven is leading a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to stop the Biden administration’s final MATS rule.

The Biden administration revived the MATS rule utilizing the same unreasonable cost justification that was rejected by the Supreme Court. The regulations would replace the existing cost-effective standards, which have already been found to protect human health and safety and were put into place under the Trump administration following an eight-year technology review.  

“President Biden and his administration continue to take the wrong approach to energy development in the U.S., handcuffing our producers with unworkable regulations and raising costs for consumers,” said Hoeven. “We need reliable and affordable baseload power provided by coal-fired power plants. That’s why we are leading legislation to stop this new MATS rule and prevent the Biden administration from imposing these unnecessary regulations that threaten the reliability and affordability of our nation’s electric grid. At the same time, we continue to advance new technology and innovations that allow us to utilize all of our nation’s abundant energy resources with good environmental stewardship, including our coal, oil and gas reserves.”

In addition to the MATS Rule, the Biden administration also issued three other power sector regulations, including:

  • Greenhouse gas reduction standards on coal and natural gas-fired power plants, similar to the Obama-era Clean Power Plan that was blocked by the Supreme Court;
  • Stringent new water discharge standards for coal-fired power plants; and
  • Burdensome new requirements on the management of coal combustion residuals.

Hoeven is working with his colleagues to stop these unnecessary regulations on the nation’s power sector that will make energy less reliable and lead to higher costs for consumers.

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