The West Virginia Coal Forum commends West Virginia’s U.S. Senate delegation for their leadership and support of two joint resolutions that express the Senate’s disapproval of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s so-called Clean Power Plan. 

The Coal Forum is an organization representing business and labor in West Virginia’s coal industry.

“Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin demonstrated true leadership in the coal industry’s fight against EPA’s power plant rules,” said Coal Forum Co-Chairman Chris Hamilton. “The entire country now knows that the majority of the United States Senate disapproves of the president’s irresponsible and economically dangerous energy policy agenda.”

Capito, R-W.Va., joined with Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., to introduce a bipartisan Senate resolution to void EPA’s regulations for existing power plants. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell similarly introduced a resolution expressing Senate disapproval of EPA’s rules for new power plants. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., joined with McConnell in his resolution, making both resolutions bipartisan Senate efforts. 

Capito and Manchin both spoke on the Senate floor in favor of the resolutions.

“I want to say thank you to our senators for working hard to protect the jobs of West Virginia’s coal miners,” said Coal Forum Co-Chairman Fred Tucker. “It’s gratifying to know the people West Virginia sends to Washington are fighting for our coal industry and standing up to the president, who continues to try to punish Appalachia for building America.”

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity and other industry analysts have said EPA’s proposed power plant rules will force American consumers and businesses to pay at least $30 billion annually in compliance costs without any meaningful environmental benefits.

Both resolutions – S .J. Res. 23 and S. J. Res. 24 -- passed the full Senate Nov. 17 and now go to the U.S. House of Representatives for their consideration.