After few mentions of energy and environmental policy during the first debate, it’s likely the Republican presidential candidates will face questions about the Clean Power Plan during the second presidential primary debate Wednesday night.
Introduced just days before the first Republican presidential primary debate, the Clean Power Plan is an expansive plan that sets carbon emissions limits on power plants. It forces the states to submit plans to the Environmental Protection Agency to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, which most climate scientists blame for driving manmade climate change, by one-third by 2030.
The plan has been the subject of criticism by many on the Right and has been referred to as the Costly Power Plan by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who sits in 8th place in the latest Washington Examiner presidential power rankings. Sixteen states plan to file a legal challenge to the rule, calling it executive overreach.
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity compiled the reactions from many of the 21 current candidates for president from both parties. Of those, 12 Republicans have come out against the plan, four Democrats support the plan and five candidates have yet to make an announcement.
The two frontrunners for the Republican nomination, businessman Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson, are among the candidates who have not taken a position on the rules.
Here’s a rundown of the candidates’ public statements:
Against the power plan
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on his website: “President Obama’s carbon rule is irresponsible and overreaching. The rule runs over state governments, will throw countless people out of work and increases everyone’s energy prices.”
Sen. Marco Rubio in The Guardian: The rules would have “a devastating impact on affordable energy in exchange for little to no environmental benefits. It would truly be one of the most expensive and costly regulations ever created. … As president I will immediately stop this massive regulation.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to Madison.com: “President Obama’s plan could be called the Costly Power Plan because it will cost hard-working Americans jobs and raise their energy rates. It will be like a buzz saw on the nation’s economy. I will stand up for American workers and stop the Costly Power Plan.”
Sen. Rand Paul to Fox News: “The thing is, is we had a vote on cap and trade. The Democrats tried to pass it and they didn’t have enough votes, so now they’re going to try to do this through executive edict, and I don’t think that’s legal. … So, we’re steadfast against it, and I will do everything I can to repeal this rule.”
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: “The Clean Power Plan is yet another example of the Obama administration inappropriately reaching far beyond its legal authority to implement more onerous and burdensome regulations on businesses and state governments alike.”
Carly Fiorina: “They’re terrible. Every single one of them should be repealed.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in Yahoo: The plan would “bankrupt families.” He called it Obama’s “carbon crusade.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich to American Bridge: “The EPA is too punitive. And now they’re trying to impose a whole bunch of things on the environment and put people out of work. I’m not for that.”
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal to the New York Times: Spokesman Michael Reed said, “The president’s Clean Power Plan undermines the role of states in the federal Clean Air Act in an effort to realize a radical, liberal agenda that will lead to increased energy costs. While we believe the proposed rule should be immediately withdrawn, we are considering all options to mitigate the damage if it becomes final, including not submitting a plan.”
Sen. Ted Cruz on his website: “The president’s lawless and radical attempt to destabilize the nation’s energy system is flatly unconstitutional and — unless it is invalidated by Congress, struck down by the courts or rescinded by the next administration — will cause Americans’ electricity costs to skyrocket at a time when we can least afford it.”
George Pataki to Bloomberg: “This is a classic top-down, government-imposed solution. It will result in higher costs of energy, an increase in vulnerability of the electrical supply and I think it’s just completely wrong.”
Former Sen. Rick Santorum in the Des Moines Register: “The regulations that wer’e seeing coming out of this administration have nothing to do with science. It’s like a quasi-religious crusade for them. They want to eliminate fossil fuels. They don’t care about the impact.”
Support the plan
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her website: “The Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan is a significant step forward in meeting the urgent threat of climate change. It sets a smart federal standard that gives states the flexibility to choose how to reduce carbon pollution most effectively. … It’s a good plan and as president, I’d defend it.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders in a tweet: “Pres Obama knows climate change is the great planetary crisis facing us & we must move boldly to transform our energy system.”
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley in a tweet: “@POTUS’s clean power plan is a great step fwd, & I’d expand it to cover large emission sources beyond power plants.”
Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee: “Thank you to the president and the EPA for taking this step forward to reduce pollution from power plants, which nationally is a large source of carbon emissions. Through this leadership initiative, our government has committed to reducing the risks associated with climate change, and has worked to ensure clean and reliable energy.”
Vice President Joe Biden hasn’t announced if he will run for president, but if he does he would be counted as a supporter of the plan.
Candidates yet to announce a position
In addition to Trump and Carson, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, Sen. Lindsey Graham (who signed a letter asking for the rule’s withdrawal in 2014) and former Sen. Jim Webb have not discussed the EPA plan.
