{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://shimkus.house.gov/media-center/opeds/obamas-epa-trying-to-kill-coal-raise-your-electric-bill", "Obama's EPA Trying to Kill Coal & Raise Your Electric Bill", "2013-09-20", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "IL", "John Shimkus", "S000364", "shimkus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the President\u2019s directive through his Climate Action Plan, issued a rule on September 20 that will kill the future for coal and raise costs for electricity in the future.\nEPA\u2019s rule limits the release of carbon-dioxide at any new coal power plant.\u00a0 In reality, the rule is a ban on constructing new coal-fired power plants\u2026as there is no technology commercially available and capable of meeting the standards set.\nFor those who say use carbon capture and sequestration, there is no full-scale power plant that is currently utilizing this technology.\u00a0 While some are under construction, that doesn\u2019t mean it will be successful.\u00a0 Plus the cost of such technology is tremendous.\nWe understand that the climate changes. Temperatures rise and fall over time and even minor changes can have great affects, as evidenced in Greenland. (Shimkus visited Greenland in 2008.) And we owe it to future generations to ensure that our environment is safe and clean.\nYet, unilateral, job-killing proposals like this rule, or cap and trade, do nothing more than increase the cost of doing business in America and reduce our competitiveness in the global economy.\nEven if the United States reduces its carbon emissions, many other nations around the globe will continue to increase their rate of emissions, and the United States will face the harsh economic effects of this rule alone. \u00a0\nIn fact, carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. actually decreased last year by 3.8 percent.\u00a0 This represents the lowest levels since the mid-1990s.\u00a0 At the same time, carbon dioxide emissions around the world increased last year to the highest levels ever on record.\u00a0\nSo while we are doing our part, the world is falling behind.\u00a0 This rule will penalize consumers by jeopardizing energy reliability and increasing utility costs to families and businesses across Illinois.\nWhat are the real effects of this rule?\u00a0 Forget about new coal-fired power plants being built.\u00a0 Thus, forget about new coal mines being opened.\u00a0 The effects could eventually include the closing of both existing power plants and coal mines\u2026putting thousands of workers out of their jobs, including many right here in Illinois.\nAdditionally, without the reasonably priced base load electricity generated by coal-fired power plants, the President and EPA want us to move toward renewable power.\u00a0 While wind and solar are increasing the amount of electricity they generate, they are reliant on factors that do not permit them to be considered for our base load needs.\nLuckily, natural gas is booming\u2026no thanks to the President and EPA.\u00a0 Our efforts in Congress have been to keep EPA out of regulating fracking.\u00a0 We hope the future remains bright for natural gas, but that doesn\u2019t mean we should shove coal aside.\nWhat happens when cheaper and more reliable electricity generation is removed from our nation\u2019s power fleet?\u00a0 Higher prices and more brownouts.\u00a0 Is that what you want to see happen?\u00a0 We don\u2019t.\nAnd once they think we\u2019ve forgotten about this rule.\u00a0 Next year comes the whopper \u2013 a rule restricting carbon emissions from existing plants, which sets a dangerous path for America resulting in an over-reliance on a single fuel source for our electricity generation.\u00a0\nWe promise to continue to fight the implementation of this rule and future anti-coal rules through legislative and funding means to ensure we have a true all-of-the-above national energy policy.\nShimkus represents the 15th District of Illinois, sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and is a co-chairman of the Coal Caucus.\nDavis represents the 13th District of Illinois and sits on the House Committees on Agriculture and Transportation & Infrastructure and is a member of the Coal Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://shimkus.house.gov/media-center/opeds/obamas-epa-trying-to-kill-coal-raise-your-electric-bill"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6682830173522234, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}