House launches EPA investigation on coal-fired power plant regulations

The House Energy and Commerce Committee are launching an investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) coal power plants regulations.

Lawmakers are looking to see how the EPA was able to mandate that new coal plants install carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Lawmakers argue that the mandate violates federal law and the technology is not commercially viable, according to the Daily Caller.

“At this time, we seek information to evaluate EPA’s adherence to statutory obligations and responsibilities, including adherence to the relevant statutory prohibitions relating to the consideration of certain facilities and technologies receiving federal assistance under the Energy Policy Act of 2005,” Republican lawmakers, including Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton said in a letter to the EPA.

The Environmental Policy Act of 2005 states that the EPA may not use federally-funded projects to prove a technology is commercially proven. The EPA included federally-funded projects in its regulatory analysis.