Landrieu to attack climate rule during coal plant visit

Sen. Mary Landrieu plans to assail the president’s latest climate rule limiting carbon emissions from existing power plants Monday during her tour of a coal plant.

The Louisiana Democrat, who faces a tough reelection battle, voiced her opposition to the new standards shortly after they were proposed last week.

{mosads}The new rules are expected to scale back U.S. electric generation from coal from 37 percent to 30 percent by 2030,

As chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, a post Landrieu has touted in at least two ads this election cycle, she noted the rules are not under the committees jurisdiction.

A comment the GOP was quick to pounce on last week as a sign that she holds no sway over the president’s climate agenda.

But that’s not stopping Landrieu.

During a tour of the coal-fired power plant in New Roads, La. Landrieu is expected to voice her opposition to the administration’s proposed regulations.

After a tour of the facility, Landrieu will hold a roundtable discussion with power industry leaders from across the state.

Landrieu told The Hill last week that despite her committee’s jurisdictional restrictions, she plans to steer the nation’s conversation on energy, and carbon emissions regulations.

“I’ve said I don’t think it should be done by rule, it should be done by law,” she said. “And the hearings that I do over the course of the next couple of weeks and months will create some kind of framework for that to happen.”