U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced on Wednesday, June 12, that he will vote to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed power plant rules, standing with Ohio’s electric cooperatives in defense of reliable electricity. Brown noted these unrealistic, unachievable rules could undermine grid reliability, raise energy costs for Ohioans, and cost Ohio energy workers their jobs.

The final regulation proposed by the EPA is particularly harmful to Ohio’s rural electric cooperatives, like North Central Electric, because they rely on unproven and unavailable technologies being utilized in unachievable compliance timelines.

“The Biden Administration failed to work with Ohio workers, electric co-ops, and other affected Ohioans to fix the rule,” read Brown’s statement. Brown supports current congressional efforts led by U.S. Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH) and will vote to overturn the EPA power plant rules.

“Our number one priority as an electric cooperative is to make sure our members have reliable electricity. The proposed EPA power plant rules work directly against our ability to provide this service,” said NCE President/CEO Ed VanHoose. “Sen. Brown understands the harmful impact these rules will have on Ohioans across the state, and I thank him for his support and speaking out against these rules.”

Ohio cooperative leaders, and many others around the country, have been active at the local, state, and national levels advocating against the proposed power plant rules, urging bipartisan help and support against unlawful attempts to force electricity generation to sources favored by the EPA despite the negative impact it would have on co-op members and plant employees across the nation.

“Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives applaud Senator Brown for supporting a Congressional Review Act resolution to stop the harmful U.S. EPA rule on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The rule is unachievable, unrealistic, and unlawful. If not stopped by Congress or in federal court, this rule will severely threaten the reliability of the electric grid and dramatically increase energy costs for rural Americans,” said Pat O’Loughlin, president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power.

NCE members are encouraged to share their own concerns with the EPA’s power plant rules by speaking out today through Voices for Cooperative Power. More information on how you can help is available at www.voicesforcooperativepower.com/epa-act-now.