House panel to hear from regulators on carbon rule

House Republicans are continuing their push against the administration’s carbon pollution rules on existing power plants next week when they return from recess.

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing on “state perspectives” of the administration’s proposal.

{mosads}The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules would mandate the nation’s fleet of existing power plants cut carbon dioxide 30 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels.

Lawmakers are expected to hear from state regulators on the “unprecedented new regulatory authority” the committee says EPA is asserting in its proposal.

“The burden of implementing this plan will fall to the states, which are being asked to completely redesign their electricity systems,” chairman of the subcommittee, Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), said in a statement on Tuesday. “States will no longer be able to choose what the best electricity mix is to meet their own needs, and all energy-planning decisions will be subject to a federal veto.”

The hearing notice did not specify which state regulators would testify at the Sept. 9, hearing.

EPA chief Gina McCarthy has defended the proposal, arguing states will have broad flexibility to implement reductions as they see fit. The EPA says it will continue to work with states, utilities, and all concerned about the proposal throughout the process.

People will have until Oct. 16, to submit comments on the draft regulation, which EPA aims to finalize by summer of 2015.