On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10), introduced the Energy Sovereignty Act to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from forcing States to destroy their energy sectors based on the whims of international elitists.
“The Energy Sovereignty Act will stop federal bureaucrats from executing environmental power grabs at the behest of those outside our Nation,” said Rep. Scott Perry. “Our States are best equipped to manage their own environmental standards, and it’s time to return the power to them.”
The Energy Sovereignty Act will protect the autonomy of the States over their own energy sectors by ensuring that unelected, unaccountable EPA bureaucrats cannot seize control over vital industries under the guise of emission reductions. The Constitution clearly reserves this power for the States. The bill repeals Section 115 of the Clean Air Act, which allows the executive branch to mandate emission reductions in all States to a level determined acceptable by EPA bureaucrats.
Section 115 gives the EPA the authority to impose emission reductions on the States if the EPA Administrator finds, based on the reports of an international organization, that domestic air pollution endangers the public health and welfare of a foreign nation, and the Administrator determines that the endangered foreign country provides reciprocity to the United States in the prevention or control of the pollutant. Removing Section 115 is the only way to prevent the delegation of nearly unlimited power by federal bureaucrats over the States’ energy sectors. This expansive regulatory action would be economically devastating – threatening the reliability and viability of our Nation’s energy grid.
The Energy Sovereignty Act will empower States to meet the needs and interests of their own citizens, rather than the whims of EPA bureaucrats. The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Alex Mooney (WV-02), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Bob Good (VA-05), and Andy Ogles (TN-05). To read the full text of the Energy Sovereignty Act, click here.
