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U.S. Senate panel OKs Capito’s effort to curb EPA

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act — federal legislation designed to significantly rein in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on carbon emissions from power plants — passed through committee Wednesday, paving the way for consideration by the full U.S. Senate.

The ARENA Act is the work of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and is a direct response to the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a landmark regulation designed to limit carbon emissions from U.S. power plants. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is a co-sponsor of the ARENA Act.

The Clean Power Plan was announced in draft form last year, with the final rule revealed Monday. Capito first announced the ARENA Act in May.

Capito, who serves on the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, which held a hearing Wednesday to review the bill and consider amendments, celebrated the committee’s passage of the ARENA Act.

“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to blocking this administration’s unprecedented clean power grab that threatens to raise energy prices and cut jobs for American families,” Capito said. “The administration’s proposal will do more harm to our energy landscape and West Virginia’s already ailing economy. We need to send these overreaching EPA regulations back to the drawing board, and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues on this important legislation.”

Manchin echoed Capito’s support for the ARENA Act and its potential to limit the EPA’s carbon emissions rule.

“Congress must step in now and stop these devastating regulations from going into effect…

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