WASHINGTON, D.C. — California Sen. Barbara Boxer heavily criticized Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s ARENA plan in a subcommittee meeting Wednesday.
The ARENA Act, which aims to scale back President Obama’s recently finalized Clean Power Plan, was marked up in the subcommittee meeting of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“These bills will be reported today. We know we don’t have the votes to stop you,” Boxer (D-Calif.) said. “They are not bipartisan in this committee. But there will be opposition on the Senate floor and I hope they never see the light of day.”
Capito (R-W.Va.) claims the reduced carbon emissions called for in the recently finalized CPP are unfair to West Virginia.
“It proposes benchmarks that are more stringent and less attainable,” Capito said. “Our emissions rate under the proposed rule was to drop approximately 20 percent. In the final rule, it requires our rate to drop by nearly 37 percent.”
The ARENA bill, which stands for Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act, gives states more power, requiring the EPA to submit a state-by-state plan on how to meet emissions standards. Also under the bill, before the EPA can set a technology standard for new power plants, the standard must first be achieved for at least one year at separate power facilities throughout the country.
Capito said she understands health concerns, but pointed out that unemployment and poverty that would result in West Virginia and nationwide would be equally detrimental.
Boxer had an answer:
“In my state, the biggest job growth is in clean energy. And guess what? Those are great-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. They’re safe for the workers and they don’t have to breathe in coal dust and all the rest. So get with it.”
Boxer added, “I don’t even know what we’re here for.”
Capito requested the EPA devise a plan that was more reasonable for coal-producing states like West Virginia.
“Before states can make major and costly changes to meet EPA’s proposed targets, EPA should map out a suggested route for each state,” Capito said. “I urge support of this legislation and look forward to the markup.”
Several states have announced this week they will refuse to comply with the EPA’s plan. West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has said he isn’t sure yet if his state will comply.