WASHINGTON, DC—A group of bipartisan U.S. senators, including Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY), expressed concerns over the USEPA's new power plant rules during a recent committee hearing.
The committee heard testimony from American Electric Power’s (AEP) interim CEO Ben Fowke, who highlighted issues related to the rising demand for electricity amid the closure of reliable coal plants due to EPA regulations. Fowke emphasized that data centers and the tech market require substantial electric power continuously.
"Let me be clear: this load growth is the opportunity of a generation and it’s ours to lose," said Chairman Joe Manchin.
Manchin pointed out that as demand for power increases, the capacity to supply necessary power is rapidly diminishing because of new EPA rules targeting fossil fuel-fired power plants. He noted that many such plants have shut down over the past decade, with new regulations potentially being detrimental to remaining coal plants that provide reliable and affordable energy.
Comparing U.S. actions with those of China, which is rapidly building coal plants due to its tech boom, Barrasso raised critical questions about future energy reliability in America. "When America’s AI developers need power, will it be enough? Will it be reliable? Will it be affordable?" he asked.
Senator Manchin further warned about potential global competitive disadvantages: "If America can’t build the energy infrastructure needed to support these industries with reliable and affordable power, we will be forfeiting the opportunity to be at the forefront of the technologies of the future and cede control to China and other nations that we cannot necessarily trust."
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