U.S. Chamber Statement in Reaction to EPA’s Unprecedented Efforts to Restructure Nation’s Electricity System

Press Release
August 3, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement today regarding the regulatory actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“From the beginning, the U.S. Chamber has had serious concerns with the EPA's attempt to restructure our electricity system under the guise of restricting greenhouse gas emissions from domestic power plants. While the final rule will take some time to analyze, we know that it still has the same fundamental legal flaws and imposes the same unbearable costs as the original proposal, while having no measurable impact on global emissions. With these rules, the EPA is trying to stretch its authority beyond recognition and to double down on its attempt to impose an unprecedented takeover of our energy system. Moreover, the significant changes to the rule's underlying assumptions and technical building blocks were barely even contemplated by EPA in the proposed rule, let alone accompanied by the analysis, input, and consultation necessary for a regulation of such unprecedented magnitude.

“As dozens of states, the Chamber, and numerous other stakeholders have discussed, the EPA's effort to shut down existing power plants and thus drive up energy prices for businesses and consumers alike will inflict significant damage to our entire economy and reduce our nation’s global competitiveness without any significant reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. It is a bad deal for America, and we will pursue all available options, including litigation if necessary, to block EPA's regulatory power grab from taking effect.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.