Week ahead: Senate to put climate rule under microscope

A Senate committee is planning its third hearing in as many months on the administration’s signature climate change regulation.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing next week on an Environmental Protection Agency climate regulation that requires states to cut carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

{mosads}State officials from Wisconsin, Wyoming, Indiana, California and New York will testify.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), who chairs the Environment panel, has vowed to scrutinize the regulation as closely as possible. Inhofe and his fellow Republicans argue the rule will hurt the economy, destroy energy jobs and do little to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The EPA contends the rule is flexible and will save consumers money on their electric bills once it’s fully implemented.

Tackling climate change is a key pillar of President Obama’s second-term legacy.

Wednesday’s Senate hearing will be far from the last on the subject.

While the House is out next week, there will still be plenty of action on Capitol Hill.

On Monday, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy will deliver remarks at the National League of Cities’s Congressional Cities Conference.

Later on Monday, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) will speak at an event on international environmental crime. Madhuri Kommareddi, director of program development for the Office of Hillary Rodham Clinton with the Clinton Foundation, will also attend.

On Tuesday, the Atlantic Council will talk about the future of the power industry. The CEO of Southern Co., Thomas Fanning, will attend.

On Wednesday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will kick off its 2015 conference. Commissioner Jeff Baran will deliver remarks.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday will mark up the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015. The legislation aims to protect and advance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting.

Finally, on Thursday, Secretary of State John Kerry will speak at a talk hosted by the Atlantic Council on the Paris climate talks.

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