Tester Pushes Back Against Biden Administration Rule that Could Raise Energy Costs for Montanans

Senator led a letter calling on the EPA to revise a proposed rule on power plant emissions

As part of his continued efforts to lower costs for Montanans, U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently led a letter calling on the Biden Administration to revise a proposed rule that could raise energy prices, undermine grid reliability, and hurt energy workers.

Tester joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) in leading a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the Administration to work with labor and industry on a final rule that would reduce emissions without raising costs for Montanans.

“We are concerned with the potential unintended consequences of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recently proposed rule on power plant emissions (“New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units”). We encourage you to strengthen this proposal by working with stakeholders from labor and industry to build consensus prior to putting forward a final rule that accomplishes our shared goals of maintaining affordable, reliable power; protecting American energy independence; protecting jobs; and lowering emissions,” wrote Tester and his colleagues. 

The Senators continued: “Prior to finalizing the EPA’s proposed rule on power plant emissions, we urge you to consult with stakeholders from both industry and labor to ensure that the final rule facilitates a responsible nationwide clean energy transition while protecting the jobs of millions of Americans, ensuring electric reliability and affordability, and making our nation a global leader in combatting greenhouse gas emissions.”

Tester has led the charge to bolster Montana’s robust energy portfolio and modernize the state’s power grid. Through Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law, he secured significant investments to improve and modernize Montana’s electrical grid to support the next generation of energy.

Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.

You can read Tester’s full letter to the EPA HERE.