Ninety-six Republican lawmakers have signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to drop the Environmental Protection Agency's "unworkable" climate regulation on carbon pollution from power plants.
In a letter to the president Friday, the GOP congressmen, joined by six Democrats, argued the regulation would "dramatically" change the way "we generate, transmit and consume electricity in the United States," and would "threaten electricity reliability and drive up energy costs,"
The Hill reports.
"This rule is simply unworkable as proposed and, if finalized, would effectively give EPA control over a state’s generation, supply, and consumption of power," the letter warns, The Hill reports.
The rule mandates that existing power plants cut carbon dioxide emissions 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
Opponents have argued the regulation will hurt coal miners, the economy and drive up costs.
But the EPA is maintaining coal is already getting edged out of the market by natural gas – even without regulations. Further, it argues the rule would curb greenhouse gases and help prevent asthma and respiratory problems, The Hill reports.
EPA chief Gina McCarthy says the rule is "flexible," allowing states to design a plan based on its energy sources.
But Republicans remain staunchly opposed unconvinced, vowing to delay or block the rule when the party takes control of the Senate, The Hill reports.
Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop slams the EPA for "overreaching its authority."
"The proposed EPA rule would mean higher energy costs for consumers and would have a detrimental impact on our nation’s economy. Congress cannot and must not allow that to happen now and into the future," Bishop told The Hill.
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