WASHINGTON, D.C. — West Virginia Third District Congressman Nick Rahall says both time and money are needed to address ways to burn coal cleaner.
Rahall, during an appearance Thursday on MetroNews Talkline, said what’s not needed is a plan by President Barack Obama that would “lock away the fuel that powers our nation.”
Rahall was responding to the President’s climate change speech from earlier this week that talked about bypassing Congress to reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Obama did propose $8 billion in loans, some of which to be used, for the development of new fossil energy technologies.
Rahall said government funding and coal industry funding are needed to boost clean coal technology but it needs more time. He said right now is not the best time for the coal industry so private investments are down.
“We need to give the industry the time for new technologies to finance and to kick in that would reduce CO2 emission,” Rahall said.
The 18-term congressman also expressed concern of President Obama’s plan to further regulate without legislation from Congress.
“Legislation is the will of the American people working its will,” he said.
The President did mention the burning of natural gas in his speech. Rahall said that was good to hear but natural gas shouldn’t be placed ahead of coal.
“Yes, we need natural gas but we can’t pick one fuel over another in this scenario,” Rahall said. “We have to use all of them. We have natural gas in West Virginia so I’m not badmouthing natural gas in anyway, but we cannot choose one over the other.”