Martin Schneider
GHG Monitor
3/14/2014
The House Energy and Commerce Committee this week launched in an investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s decisionmaking on the proposed New Source Performance Standards for power plants, which essentially require carbon capture and sequestration for new coal plants. In a March 12 letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Committee leaders requested a host of documents related to the agency’s consideration of the NSPS, including emails and other communication between EPA, the Department of Energy, the Department of Treasury and the White House Office of Management and Budget. The Committee requested the documents by March 28.
The letter states, “We continue to have questions about EPA decisions concerning (a) agency consideration of CCS technologies, and the information derived from use of these technologies, at facilities that have been receiving federal funding or tax credits authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005; (b) EPA’s reliance on these federally supported facilities and technologies for the purpose of proposing emissions performance standards under section 111 of the Clean Air Act; and (c) information from the Department of Energy and other agencies relating to EPA’s consideration of these facilities and technologies for the purposes of standard-setting.” It goes on to say, “At this time, we seek information to evaluate EPA’s adherence to statutory obligations and responsibilities, including adherence to the relevant statutory prohibitions relating to the consideration of certain facilities and technologies receiving federal assistance under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”
The letter was signed by full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), Vice Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Michael C. Burgess. (R-Texas), Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-Texas), and full committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.).
