House Panel Clears Bill To Push-Back On EPA Cost Hike
Bill giving Oklahoma attorney general, Legislature input on EPA carbon rule advances
by Paul Monies
A bill giving Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and the Legislature oversight of any state response to the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan passed a House committee Tuesday.
Senate Bill 676 is part of an effort in at least a dozen states to push back against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule to limit carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants.
Pruitt’s office requested the bill by Sen. Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Jon Echols.
Echols, R-Oklahoma City, presented the bill Tuesday at the House environmental law committee, with Pruitt in attendance.
Pruitt last year signed on to a lawsuit against the Clean Power Plan, which the EPA is expected to finalize some time this summer. The plan would require existing power plants to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent by 2030.