Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Congressman Kelly Armstrong have introduced bicameral legislation aimed at preventing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing its new Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule. The Biden administration's MATS rule is seen as imposing costly and stringent Obama-era regulations on coal-fired electric power plants. Critics argue that these regulations will force power plants to close, threatening grid reliability and increasing costs for American families.

Hoeven is leading the Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval in the Senate, while Armstrong is spearheading the CRA in the House of Representatives. The resolution can be passed by a simple majority in both houses.

In 2012, when first introduced, the MATS rule led to the closure of several power plants before being overturned by the Supreme Court in 2015. The Biden administration has revived this rule using a cost justification that was previously rejected by the Supreme Court. This move would replace existing cost-effective standards that have been deemed protective of human health and safety. These standards were implemented under the Trump administration following an eight-year technology review.

"The Biden administration's new MATS rule threatens access to reliable and affordable baseload power provided by our coal-fired power plants," said Senator Hoeven. "We are leading this resolution to stop the Biden administration’s MATS rule and ensure we are able utilize all of our nation’s abundant energy resources with good environmental stewardship."

Representative Armstrong added, "Coal is the largest source of electricity for our state. The Biden Administration’s attack on coal makes it impossible for providers of electrical and power sources to have a reliable and consistent grid from all necessary sources of energy."

Hoeven's resolution is being cosponsored by Senators Steve Daines, Marsha Blackburn, Shelley Moore Capito, John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis, Kevin Cramer, Roger Wicker, Mike Lee, Markwayne Mullin and Cindy Hyde-Smith. Armstrong’s resolution is being cosponsored by Representatives Ryan Zinke, Troy Balderson, Greg Pence, Morgan Griffith, Randy Weber, Mary Miller, Brett Guthrie, Glenn Grothman, Cliff Bentz and John Moolenaar.