Washington, D.C. –Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement in response to the Obama administration’s announcement of stringent new EPA carbon regulations for existing power plants.

Chairman Smith: “The President’s plan forces costly and unnecessary regulations on hardworking American families.  The Clean Air Act was never intended to regulate carbon.  The EPA’s plan is ‘all pain, no gain.’  It will close power plants and drive up electricity prices. These regulations will mean more jobs lost to places like China and India.

“We all want to protect the environment.  But the Obama administration should stop trying to scare Americans without scientific evidence to back up their claims. U.S. emissions have already declined by 9% from 2008 to 2012. And studies show that dramatically cutting carbon emissions in the U.S. will have little impact on global temperature in the future. 

“A better solution is to focus on technological innovations that cut energy costs, create jobs and can be used world-wide.  Instead, the President continues to push a radical environmental agenda that kills jobs in the U.S. and costs American families. These regulations mean more government control and less freedom for Americans.”