November 2015

By a vote of 54-46, the Senate voted this week to repeal the Environmental Protection Agency's recently finalized rule to reduce carbon emissions from electric power plants in the U.S. The EPA rule, known as the Clean Power Plan, requires each state to meet EPA established targets to reduce carbon emissions. States are expected to meet the EPA established carbon reduction goals by:

• Improving the efficiency of existing power plans.
• Transitioning from coal to natural gas fired power plans.
• Expanding use of alternative fuel sources (solar, wind, nuclear etc.).
• Any combination of the above three bullets.

Three Republicans, Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) broke ranks with their Republican colleagues to oppose the measure. Three Democrats, Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) broke with their colleagues to support the repeal. The House of Representatives is expected to take up and pass similar legislation. President Obama is expected to veto the legislation.

The ATS sent a letter to Congress urging members to vote against legislation repealing the EPA Clean Power Plan.