SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS APPLAUDS REPEAL OF BIDEN-HARRIS POWER PLANT REGULATIONS
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 12, 2025) — On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed repealing the Biden‑Harris administration’s regulations on power plants. Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, issued the following statement in support of the move.
"A critical course correction is finally here. The Biden-Harris regulations, born from political fantasy which increased costs to the consumer, were unrealistic in the face of soaring energy demands, including those from AI."
“In Kentucky, we know energy policy isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a kitchen‑table issue. Repealing these illogical mandates is a win for every family trying to pay their electric bill, every business owner managing costs, and every utility worker tasked with keeping our grid stable.
“Our country runs on reliability. Coal and gas remain essential to that equation, especially in Appalachia, which has been the backbone of America’s energy economy. Kentucky coal powered our nation through the Industrial Revolution, and today it stands ready to help power the digital and tech revolutions.
“I commend President Trump and the EPA for recognizing energy security and affordability must come before dangerous political posturing.”
BACKGROUND
The Biden‑era rules, finalized in 2023, would have required coal and gas plants to adopt costly carbon‑capture or hydrogen co‑firing technology in the coming years—a mandate deemed unrealistic and likely to threaten baseload generation and drive utility rates higher.
Experts warned that the regulations could cause early plant retirements, reduce grid stability, and impose over $1 billion in annual compliance costs on energy producers and consumers.
Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, has long advocated for an all‑of‑the‑above energy strategy that keeps Kentuckians safe, employed, and economically secure, without sacrificing affordability or reliability.
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Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, represents the 25th Senate District, which includes Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, and Whitley Counties. As of January 1, Stivers has served as Kentucky Senate president for over a decade. He first assumed the position in 2013, succeeding former Senate President David Williams. As Senate President, Stivers chairs the Senate Committee on Committees and the Rules Committee and is co-chair of the Legislative Research Commission. He is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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