An Electric Power Grab

Sen. Deb Fischer

Over the past few years, electricity rates across Nebraska have been on the rise. With these additional costs come financial burdens to Nebraska families and businesses. But more dramatic increases loom on the horizon due to unprecedented overreach by the federal government.

From Omaha to the Panhandle, and everywhere in between, Nebraskans feel the impact of federal government regulations. This has become more and more evident with the rollout of the Obama administration’s proposed “waters of the United States” rule – a brazen attempt to seize control of our state’s water resources. But regulating rain puddles was not enough. They want to affect your electric bill too.

In 2013, President Obama unveiled his “Climate Action Plan” – a misguided effort to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. Included in this plan was an executive order directing the EPA to set new emission reduction standards for new and existing power plants. These standards focus on coal-generated power plants, which are the primary source of the electricity you use every day. While the environmental benefits of these rules are theoretical at best, the economic harm they will impose is very real. Without providing immediate, affordable energy alternatives, they are punishing energy providers and the people who rely on them in their daily lives.

The people of Nebraska are proud to be a 100 percent public power state, and we will be disproportionately impacted by President Obama’s takeover of our electricity system. Families and businesses will be forced to pay for costly plant upgrades, higher electricity bills, and more expensive goods and services. Nebraskans are fighting back. Both the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and our state’s public power utilities have submitted public comments to the EPA in opposition to these rules. While I appreciate that Nebraskans have had the opportunity to voice their concerns about this aggressive overreach, I believe that Congress needs to take action as well.

To help aid this effort, I joined West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito to introduce a bipartisan bill known as the Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA). The legislation would stop the EPA’s unprecedented electricity system takeover, while restoring state authority to protect ratepayers from rate hikes. ARENA would require federal agencies to submit evidence regarding the feasibility of standards over a proven period of time before setting a technology-based standard for new power plants. It would also hold the EPA accountable. Under this legislation, the EPA would be required to issue state-specific plans that demonstrate how each state could meet emission reduction requirements under the rule. It’s very simple – prove something will work before inflicting harm.

The bill would also restore states’ authority, giving them the option to opt out of requirements that have a demonstrated negative impact on economic growth, the reliability of the electricity system, or electricity ratepayers. Finally, ARENA would prevent the EPA from withholding highway funds from states that don’t meet the agency’s harsh mandates.

Environmental policies can have a direct impact on America’s energy security and our economy. That is why it is crucial that any federal regulations are based on proven science and balanced with economic demand. For that reason, I am proud to support ARENA to protect Nebraska families from the EPA’s proposed takeover of our public power system. This overreach is unnecessary, and with this bill, we can empower states across the nation to help our environment without harming our citizens and our economy.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week