The five Oklahoma U.S. Representatives were sold in their support on Tuesday as the House passed a bill to force utilities to keep coal-fired power plants online past their scheduled retirement dates.
Even some moderate Democrats joined the Republican members from the state in passing the “Power Plant Reliability Act,” H.R. 3632, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.). The Act would grant the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission broad new authority to require utilities to continue operating power plants if their retirement would threaten grid reliability. The bill passed 222-202.
“Because of radical ‘Green New Deal’ policies that shun reliable forms of energy like natural gas, coal and nuclear, our electric grid faces a brewing crisis of premature baseload power plant retirements. My bill, the Power Plant Reliability Act, will help shield Americans from blackout threats and ensure the reliable delivery of power to American homes, factories and communities,” said Rep. Griffith.
“Nothing can be more destructive to our communities than a blackout,” said House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio). “When a state seeks to close a power plant without identifying sufficient replacement, there is little recourse for consumers.”
In June, the Energy and Commerce Committee favorably reported Congressman Griffith’s measure. During that markup hearing, Congressman Griffith spoke in support of his bill. Congressman Griffith has long held concerns about the early retirement of Virginia’s and regional electric power plants, including the impacts on electric bills in Southwest Virginia.
In June, Congressman Griffith penned a Washington Examiner op-ed that discussed bolstering America’s electric grid.
Congressman Griffith serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus.