Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said on Wednesday he would oppose all nominees for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posts until President Joe Biden's administration halts what he described as its "radical climate agenda."
Manchin, who represents the coal-producing state West Virginia, delivered his ultimatum a day ahead of the EPA's planned roll-out on Thursday of its new carbon emission standards for new and existing power plants. He said he worried the rules could cripple coal- and gas-fired power plants.
"If the reports are true, the pending EPA proposal would impact nearly all fossil-fueled power plants in the United States, which generate about 60% of our electricity, without an adequate plan to replace the lost baseload generation," Manchin said in a statement.
The agency is expected to unveil power plant emission performance standards that will lean heavily on the deployment of carbon capture or hydrogen technology to clean up the electric sector, which accounts for a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Two Biden appointees are still awaiting confirmation for key agency roles - Joe Goffman as assistant administrator for air and radiation, and David Uhlmann for assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance.
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96 w
Such moves are killjoys for climate change advocates
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96 w
Dear Rashid Kamau Thank you for getting your climate warning to level 2! We have reached out to Joe Manchin and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! /Adam We Don't Have Time
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96 w
To protects his interests , democrats should stop him.
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96 w
What else to expect from a Senator who owns a super-dirty coal company.
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96 w
ABSURD
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96 w
He is totally misguided.
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96 w
That's a strong stance by Senator Manchin, as the EPA is responsible for protecting public health and the environment. It's important for us to ensure that the EPA is led by knowledgeable and responsible individuals who will prioritize the wellbeing of the planet.
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96 w
Seriously... ?why would he do that.
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96 w
What a nice guy (NOT!)
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Something needs to be done