The Trump administration has officially ended Obama’s war on coal.
On Wednesday, June 19, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the
Affordable Clean Energy plan, also known as “ACE.” ACE is the
replacement to Obama’s infamous Clean Power Plan, which wreaked havoc on
energy-job dependent communities around the nation.
And CFACT was there in support!
Along with several members of Congress and dozens of coal miners,
CFACT’s student leader at George Mason University, David Bucarey, was
there at EPA headquarters to applaud the Trump administration’s efforts.
“I really loved the opportunity to come in to DC and see this great
reform be enacted,” said David, a sophomore at George Mason, which is
located in northern Virginia. “I sat next to and spoke to some of the
coal miners who were affected, and I really appreciate what they do in
providing energy for our country. Thank you to CFACT for helping me to
get more involved.”
President Trump had signed an order in 2017 directing the EPA to
remove the Clean Power Plan. This ceremony was the fulfillment of that
directive by EPA officials.
The new ACE rule
is designed to give states more power over deciding how to regulate
energy, meaning those states dependent on coal or gas can keep those
much-needed energy producing jobs available.
“The Affordable Clean Energy rule — ACE — gives states the regulatory
certainty they need to continue to reduce emissions and provide
affordable and reliable energy for all Americans,” Administrator Wheeler
stated.
“The contrast between our approach and the Green New Deal, or plans
like it, couldn’t be clearer. Rather than Washington telling Americans
what type of energy they can use, or how they can travel, or even what
they can eat, we are working cooperatively with the states to provide
affordable, dependable, and diverse supply of energy that continues to
get cleaner and more efficient.”
David
also got to meet and talk with Congressman Glenn Thompson of
Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district, which relies heavily on
coal.
“I’ve never met a congressman before,” David said. “That was pretty cool.”
At one point during the proceedings, the speakers recognized all the
coal miners in attendance, who were mostly from Pennsylvania, and gave
them a standing ovation.
Despite the optimism from inside the meeting, Democratic Attorneys
General plan to sue the EPA over this new rule. These include New York
and Connecticut, but more states are sure to join in.
“This is yet another prime example of this administration’s attempt
to rollback critical regulations that will have devastating impacts on
both the safety & health of our nation,” said New York’s Attorney
General Letitia James in a tweet.
Gina McCarthy, Obama’s former EPA Administrator who put the Clean
Power Plan in place several years ago, said “I do not dispute any
administration coming in with different policies, but the challenge I
think we’re facing is they are really changing the rules of the road and
not using sound science.”
But since President Trump pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord, US CO₂ emissions have been dropping, while European CO₂ emissions have been on the rise, despite Europe being the poster child for “green” energy policies.
In fact, according to the Statistical Review of World Energy by BP,
the United States led the world in CO₂ emissions reduction in 2017,
while the European Union’s emissions were actually up by 1.5%.
CFACT has long advocated for the repeal and replacement of the Clean Power Plan at both the federal and grassroots levels.
Passionate CFACT student leaders like David will continue to do the
hard work of rallying support for much-needed free market reforms like
this one on college campuses around the country. George Mason University
in particular, with its close proximity to Washington DC, is a perfect
place to grow this already impactful network of Collegians activists.
Stay tuned for great things from David at George Mason, and all our
incredible Collegians from coast to coast, come the next school semester
this fall.
