Bill Johnson Votes to Protect Ohio Coal Jobs and Keep Electricity Affordable

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Earlier today, Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) voted for the Ratepayer Protection Act (H.R. 2042). This legislation, which Johnson co-sponsored, would prevent the EPA from implementing some of the most extreme emissions standards in the agency’s history:

“The EPA’s carbon emission regulations have already – intentionally – made it economically unfeasible to build new coal-fired power plants, and their latest proposed emission guidelines threaten to shut down existing plants as well,” Johnson said. “Around 70% of Ohio’s electricity comes from coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, approximately 3,000 Ohioans earn a living working in the mines, and thousands of indirect jobs depend on the coal industry. Coal miners already have a very difficult and stressful job, and now because of the overreach of the EPA, they’ll worry about whether or not they will still have a job when they show up for work.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act would allow individual states to opt out of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, should that state’s governor, in consultation with state energy and other relevant officials, determine that the rule would negatively affect grid reliability or increase the energy costs of families. Additionally, the legislation would also extend the rule’s compliance dates pending judicial review. The bill passed the House by a vote of 247 to 180.

Johnson added, “I’ve seen first-hand the consequences that President Obama’s attacks on the coal industry have had across Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. If this EPA rule moves forward to implementation, more jobs will be lost and more hardworking Americans will see higher energy costs when they open their electric bill. To me, it’s common-sense that we act to extend EPA compliance deadlines until judicial reviews are complete. The Ratepayer Protection Act also ensures that a governor would not be forced to implement any compliance plan that is found to have a significant adverse effect on the state’s energy grid reliability.”

Earlier today, Congressman Johnson spoke on the House floor in support of the Ratepayer Protection Act. Watch here: https://youtu.be/1-5d6_BNqS0.