Democrats Seek To Revive The War On Coal

Democrats Want To Return To A Regulation That ‘Would Have Weaponized A Federal Agency To Bury Energy Producers And All Those Who Depend On Them’

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): “[I]mplementation of the so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ was frozen by a Supreme Court stay more than three years ago in 2016…. It would have weaponized a federal agency to bury energy producers and all those who depend on them under one-size-fits-all regulations with duplicative mandates and unrealistic timelines. And as production of the most affordable and reliable energy available to American families dried up, it would have left higher electricity costs in its wake. Higher domestic power prices would mean fewer American jobs here at home, with no meaningful effect on global emissions. Any rational observer would have concluded that this regulation was all pain for no gain -- just good American jobs being shipped overseas.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 6/19/2019)

• SEN. McCONNELL: “The Obama Administration’s so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ offered a typical story from that era…. [A]n intrusive regulatory regime -- built not on effective policy, but on far-left ideology…. This so-called ‘Clean Power Plan’ they dreamed up would’ve had no meaningful effect on global emissions. It would, however, have packed up middle-class American jobs and sent them overseas. It would have piled a heavier burden onto the most vulnerable families. Lower-income Americans are hit the hardest when energy costs take off…. That’s why I fought the Obama Administration’s entire war on coal, which was centered around this regulation, tooth and nail.” (Sen. McConnell, Remarks, 8/21/2018)

Studies: Under The Obama Regulation, ‘40 States Could Have Average Retail Electricity Price Increases Of 10% Or More,’ With ‘Consumers Paying An Additional $214 Billion For Electricity’ Over 8 Years

“State-level average electricity price increases demonstrate that many states could experience significant price increases … 40 states could have average retail electricity price increases of 10% or more, 17 states could have average retail electricity price increases of 20% or more, [and] 10 states could have average retail electricity price increases of 30% or more” (“Energy and Consumer Impacts of EPA’s Clean Power Plan,” NERA Economic Consulting, 11/07/2015)

“Forty-six states will face double digit increases in wholesale electricity cost when the CPP is fully implemented in 2030, with 16 states projected to experience a 25+ percent increase.” (“EPA’s Clean Power Plan, An Economic Impact Analysis,” Energy Ventures Analysis, 11/13/2015)

“This analysis found that the impacts of the rule on electricity costs will be significant, with consumers paying an additional $214 billion for electricity between 2022 and 2030 compared to the same period without the CPP.” (“EPA’s Clean Power Plan, An Economic Impact Analysis,” Energy Ventures Analysis, 11/13/2015)

• “Added to this total will be the projected $64 billion cost to replace an estimated 41 gigawatts (GW) of power plant capacity forced to close prematurely by the CPP. This wholesale cost too will eventually be passed on to ratepayers.” (“EPA’s Clean Power Plan, An Economic Impact Analysis,” Energy Ventures Analysis, 11/13/2015)

‘The [Clean Power Plan] Rule Would Drive Electricity Bills Up’

“LOSERS: - YOUR POWER BILL … The National Association of Manufacturers, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, the National Mining Association, the American Energy Alliance and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association all predicted the rule would drive electricity bills up.” (“Who Wins And Loses Under Obama's Stricter Power Plant Limits,” The Associated Press, 8/03/2015)

• “The Obama administration estimated the emissions limits will cost $8.4 billion annually by 2030.” (“Climate Change: Obama Orders Steeper Cuts From Power Plants,” The Associated Press, 8/02/2015)

GINA McCARTHY, Obama Administration EPA Administrator: “[I]f there is any increase … we know that low-income minority communities would be hardest hit …” (Policy Leadership Forum on ‘The Promise of the Clean Power Plan,’” 8/11/2015)

‘The Main Target: Coal,’ ‘Likely To Trigger Even More Coal-Plant Shutdowns’

“On Monday, the Obama administration takes on the coal industry with the final version of rules it has dubbed the Clean Power Plan, a complex scheme designed to reduce, on a state-by-state basis, the amount of greenhouse gases the nation’s electric power sector emits. The main target: coal.” (“New EPA Rule On Greenhouse Gases The Latest Blow To King Coal,” The Washington Post, 8/01/2015)

• “Over the next 15 years, the plan would aim to sharply reduce the use of coal and ramp up the use of wind and solar power. Currently, coal accounts for almost 40% of the nation’s electricity, while wind and solar produce about 5%.” (“Obama's New Emissions Rules Likely To Help Shape White House Race,” Los Angeles Times, 8/02/2015)

• “…likely to trigger even more coal-plant shutdowns—as well as complaints from congressional and 2016 Republicans about an Obama ‘war on coal.’ Indeed, the rule could deal a major blow to the industry.” (“Winners and Losers In President Obama’s Global Warming Rule,” National Journal, 8/02/2015)

Reviving The Obama War On Coal Is Part Of Democrats’ Green New Deal Agenda

“The planned vote comes roughly 2 weeks after Schumer said a sweeping climate bill would be ‘one of the first things we put on the floor’ if Democrats regain the majority …” (“Senate Democrats Plan To Force Vote On Trump's Power Plant Emissions Rule,” Axios, 10/10/2019)

Resolution introduced by SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT) and REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): “[A]ddressing the climate emergency will require [a] managed phase-out of the use of oil, gas, and coal to keep fossil fuels in the ground …” (Sen. Sanders, Press Release, 7/09/2019)

“Joe Biden is embracing the framework of the Green New Deal in his bid for the White House … Biden’s climate plan adopts the rhetoric — and at times, many of the actual policy proposals — of the Green New Deal resolution put forward this year by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) …” (“Joe Biden Embraces Green New Deal As He Releases Climate Plan,” The Washington Post, 6/04/2019)

• “As president, Biden says he’d start by reversing many actions of the Trump administration … He acknowledges that such an overhaul would affect existing U.S. energy workers — coal miners and power plant operators especially.” (“Joe Biden’s $5T Climate Plan: Net Zero Emissions By 2050,” The Associated Press, 6/04/2019)

“Like [Gov. Jay] Inslee’s [D-WA] proposal, [Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA)] plan would set regulations aimed at retiring coal-fired electricity within a decade …” (“Elizabeth Warren Unveils Climate Change Plan, Embracing Jay Inslee’s Goals,” The New York Times, 9/03/2019)

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FLASHBACK: ‘A War On Coal Is Exactly What’s Needed,’ ‘Make Examples Out Of People’

HILLARY CLINTON: “We’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.” (“Why Putting Coal Miners Out Of Work Is A Very Bad Thing To Say In West Virginia,” The Washington Post, 5/10/16)

DANIEL P. SCHRAG, Obama White House Climate Adviser: ‘A war on coal is exactly what’s needed’ “The one thing the president really needs to do now is to begin the process of shutting down the conventional coal plants. …a war on coal is exactly what’s needed.” (The New York Times, 6/25/2013)

Obama EPA Official: ‘Make examples out of people’ “The Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish (sic) town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years. And so you make examples out of people...” (Forbes, 4/26/2012)

THEN-SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “Under my plan of a cap and trade system electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket, even, you know, regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad, because I'm capping greenhouse gases, coal powered plants, you know, natural gas, you name it, whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.” (The San Francisco Chronicle, 1/17/2008)

THEN-SEN. BARACK OBAMA: “So if somebody wants to build a coal fired plant they can, it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they are going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that is being emitted.” (The San Francisco Chronicle, 1/17/2008)