The Biden administration has once again demonstrated it is more interested in appeasing radical environmental activists than supporting jobs and securing North American energy independence.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced last month a stringent new rule that would effectively force power plants to shut down if they don’t implement expensive new carbon capture technology by 2032. This out-of-touch rule is neither technologically nor economically feasible.
And while we shouldn’t turn our back on implementing commonsense carbon capture technology to help lower emissions, we simply cannot force a transition overnight. The EPA’s decision will end up hurting our energy industries, cutting jobs, and forcing consumers to fork over even more of their hard-earned dollars to heat and light their homes.
For the last 15 years, the United States has led the world in decreasing carbon emissions. Contrast that with communist China, which continues to lead the world as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases. In fact, China continues to build six times more coal-fired power plants than any other country. This equates to roughly two new coal power plants being built per week.
If the United States has any hope of competing with China or any other energy-producing nation, we must invest in all sources of domestic energy.
I represent Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, which is home to more than 86,000 manufacturing jobs — the most in the state. When I meet with local manufacturers, they repeatedly tell me they need more power to compete domestically and globally.
It’s true: We need more power to keep factories humming, workers employed, and to simply keep up with growing energy demands.
And if the Biden administration continues its quest to mass deploy electric vehicles, we’re going to need much more power to keep up with the demand.
As it stands, our electric grid can barely keep up with the hot summer months, let alone provide enough power to charge hundreds of thousands of new electric vehicles or keep up with the latest energy guzzlers: artificial intelligence and crypto mining. Giant data centers needed to support these industries are putting a massive strain on the electric grid. Energy companies will need more natural gas, nuclear power, and clean coal to keep data centers running, while also providing enough energy for everyday consumers to keep their lights on.
The Biden administration must wake up. We need much more power to compete, and that means we must invest in domestic energy sources.
Unfortunately, since his first day in office, President Joe Biden has waged war against the domestic energy industry. By canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and recently banning the export of liquefied natural gas, he has catered to the loudest, most extreme voices within his party. The EPA’s carbon capture requirement is just the latest in a long list of examples.
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In Congress, we’re already working to overturn this misguided decision. I’m proud to join my colleague on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), in cosponsoring his Congressional Review Act. If enacted, this bill would reverse the EPA’s overreaching rule and ensure power plants can remain operational for years to come.
And as we look to continue pushing back on these rules and regulations flying out of the Biden administration, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has a unique role to play. As a senior member of the committee, I’ll continue working with my colleagues to advance policies that invest in an all-of-the-above energy strategy where the federal government doesn’t pick winners and losers — one that isn’t out of touch with the basic realities of energy production and consumption in this country.
Bob Latta is a U.S. representative for Ohio. He serves as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a member of the House Energy Action Team, and a member of the Conservative Climate Caucus.
