Hudson Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Protect N.C. from Energy Bill Hikes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court blocked President Barack Obama’s rules for new and existing power plants:

Last December, Congress passed two bipartisan Congressional Resolutions of Disapproval under the Congressional Review Act for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rules for new and existing power plants. The resolutions deem that the rules would have no force and effect. Under the Congressional Review Act, the agency may not issue the same or a substantially similar rule unless authorized by subsequent legislation.

In addition, the House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 2042) last June to protect families and businesses from these significant electricity rate increases and reduced electric reliability by requiring judicial review of the rule to be completed before states are required to comply. H.R. 2042 also provides a safe harbor for states, ensuring that no state will be forced to implement a state or federal plan if the governor finds it would significantly harm energy affordability or reliability. To watch Rep. Hudson’s remarks in support of the Ratepayer Protection Act, click here.

In North Carolina, the president’s power plant rule, also known as the “Clean Power Plan,” could increase rates by nearly 14% without having a significant impact on global emissions. In addition, North Carolina has significantly reduced carbon dioxide emission from electric utilities since 2005, but this rule does not take these reductions into account.

As a Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power, Rep. Hudson is working to examine and put an end to harmful EPA regulations like these that could have harmful economic consequences on jobs, families and communities in North Carolina.