WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement in response to the EPA’s announcement of their final ruling on the Clean Power Plan:

“As the sole 100 percent public power state, Nebraska will be disproportionately impacted by this overregulation of our electricity system. This harmful mandate will effectively shut down many existing coal-fired power plants, forcing families and businesses to pay higher electricity bills.

“I will continue to fight this rule’s implementation and look forward to advancing the ARENA Act – a bill that would protect our states from this unprecedented power grab.”

Fischer has been part of a bipartisan coalition of senators working to stop the EPA’s harmful performance standard regulations for existing power plants from taking effect. In May, she joined Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to introduce new legislation that will halt the damaging effects of the Obama administration’s proposed regulations to control new and existing power plants.

The bill, known as the Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA) would protect states from the EPA’s unprecedented power grab. It also protects ratepayers from increased electricity rates and reduced reliability.

Specifically, the ARENA Act would:

Prevent mandates for unproven technology: The bill would require an agency to achieve a standard for at least 12 months at six separate power facilities throughout the country before setting a technology-based standard for new power plants. The bill would also prevent the EPA from using any demonstration projects (which are reliant on federal support) from being used to set the standard.

Extend compliance dates: The bill would extend the rule’s compliance dates pending final judicial review, including the dates for submission of state plans.

Hold the EPA accountable: This bill would require the EPA to issue state-specific model plans demonstrating how each state could meet the required greenhouse gas emissions reductions under the rule.

Enable states to protect ratepayers: The bill would provide that no state shall be required to implement a state or federal plan that the state’s governor determines would negatively impact economic growth, the reliability of the electricity system, or electricity ratepayers.

Protect highway fund dollars: The bill would prevent the EPA from withholding highway funds from any states for noncompliance with the “Clean Power Plan.”

Click here to view the text of the ARENA Act.

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