releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=19771d28-a698-417f-a9c6-69033954852e
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=19771d28-a698-417f-a9c6-69033954852e | Heitkamp Leads Bipartisan Group of 47 Senators Calling on EPA to Extend Comment Period for Forthcoming Coal Plant Rules | 2014-05-28 | 2014 | 2014-05 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. With the Administration poised to announce new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp led a bipartisan coalition of 47 Senators in calling for a 120-day public comment period. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release the first ever greenhouse gas performance standards for existing coal-fired power plants next week. If these regulations fail to create a reasonable reduction level and timeline for implementation, these new limits on emissions could raise energy costs for American families, effectively shut down many existing coal-fired power plants, and adversely impact middle-class coal jobs throughout the country. In their letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Heitkamp and others stressed that utilities, rural electric cooperatives, employees, and consumers need sufficient time to analyze the rule and its potential impacts on reliability, electricity providers, jobs, and the economy. Affordable, reliable, and redundant sources of electricity are essential to the economic well-being of our states and the quality of life of our constituents, Heitkamp and others wrote. While we all agree that clean air is vitally important, EPA has an obligation to understand the impacts that regulations have on all segments of society. Heitkamp, who has more than a decade of experience working as a Director for a North Dakota energy company, has repeatedly fought wrongheaded proposals that would take coal out of our energy mix, and she has put forth workable solutions to make sure we maintain a reliable supply of baseload power by finding a path forward for coal. In March, Heitkamp introduced legislation to find a viable path forward for coal by incentivizing utilities companies to invest in clean coal technologies that would make it affordable for coal plants to lower emissions. Click here to read a full copy of the letter Heitkamp sent to McCarthy, which with Heitkamp was led by Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and signed by Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and 44 other Senators. Heitkamp is a staunch supporter of North Dakotas all-of-the-above energy strategy that is leading the way toward North American energy security and independence. For more than a decade, she was on the board of directors for the one-of-a-kind Dakota Gasification synfuels plant in Beulah, North Dakota. Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has been committed to finding a realistic avenue for clean coal by: Introducing major legislation to put coal on a viable path forward. Heitkamps bill incentivizes companies to invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of coal-fired power. This is done through federal funding programs, federal support for private investment, and recommendations to Congress that provide insight on how best to support future CCS projects in the U.S. Bringing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to North Dakota to talk about coal. Heitkamp has made it clear to the Administration and the EPA that she disagrees with the agencys policies regarding coal-fired power. After pressing EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Heitkamp brought McCarthy to North Dakota in February so she could hear about the impacts of EPA regulations including the proposed New Source Performance Standard rules directly from North Dakotans. Heitkamp made a strong case that coal is a critical energy source and she talked about the need for investments in clean coal technologies as a path toward a true all-of-the-above energy strategy. Bringing together industry, lawmakers, and academics to discuss a viable path forward for coal. Heitkamp co-hosted a Coal Technology Symposium on Capitol Hill earlier this month that brought together industry, lawmakers, experts and academics including the Energy and Environmental Research Center from Grand Forks to discuss the importance of finding a viable path forward for coal. To a crowded room, Heitkamp laid out why it is so important for our nation to put in place realistic energy policies and discussed the important role coal plays in providing affordable energy in North Dakota and around the country. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |