North Dakota Ag Connection - Hoeven and Dalrymple: SCOTUS Decision Logical, Welcomed

North Dakota Ag News Headlines

Hoeven and Dalrymple: SCOTUS Decision Logical, Welcomed
North Dakota Ag Connection - 02/11/2016

Senator John Hoeven Wednesday issued the following statement after being informed that the Supreme Court has stayed enforcement of President Obama's plan to severely reduce the nation's use of coal until after legal challenges are resolved. As a result of the decision, the September deadline for states to submit plans to the Environmental Protection Agency is no longer in effect.

"The Supreme Court's decision was logical and welcome. I believe the coalition of 27 states, including North Dakota, made a powerful case for halting implementation of the rules. Clearly, the cost to coal companies and utilities to comply would be crippling and costly to consumers."

Meanwhile, Gov. Jack Dalrymple issued the following statement:

"It is very rare and significant for the United States Supreme Court to suspend an entire, wide-sweeping agenda of the executive branch of the federal government. It has always been our position that the Obama Administration has grossly overreached its authority in developing the EPA's emissions plan, and has not given real thought to the serious consequences to our national economy or to consumers' access to affordable electricity. The Supreme Court found that our arguments against this plan have a great deal of merit, and it is my hope that the Court's decision to stay the implementation of these rules will usher in a new approach where Congress, regulators, industry and consumers are brought together to develop a responsible strategy for continued reductions in CO2 emissions.

"North Dakota is one of just a handful of states that meet all ambient air quality standards established by the EPA, but would be one of the hardest hit states if the EPA's plan moves forward," Dalrymple said. "Coal-fired power plants provide about 80 percent of North Dakota's residential and commercial energy supply while also providing power to surrounding states. These plants continue to reduce emissions, but unworkable rules will only eliminate jobs and jeopardize consumers' access to reliable and affordable energy."

Hoeven has worked with Senator Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) to introduce the bipartisan Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA Act). This legislation would empower state governors to protect ratepayers from increases and ensure the reliability of the electricity grid while also preventing the EPA from mandating unproven technology or withholding highway funds from states not in compliance with the rule.

In August, the Environmental Protection Agency issued its final rule on proposed CO2 reductions and a timeline to implement them by 2030. The administration's final rule will require North Dakota to reduce CO2 emissions by 45 percent, well above the 32 percent national average reduction and significantly higher than the 11 percent reduction required of North Dakota under the proposed rule.

According to Management Information Services, the CO2 rule will raise the price of power and gas for the average American family by more than $1,225 a year by 2030, and reduce the U.S. economy by more than $2.3 trillion over the next two decades.

Other North Dakota Headlines