U.S. Chamber’s Energy Institute praises repeal of midnight legislation

The U.S. Chamber Institute for 21st Century Energy, a leading energy sector organization, is pleased with President Donald Trump’s ruling regarding the overturn of the Stream Protection Rule.
“We commend Congress and President Trump for working quickly to overturn the so-called Stream Protection Rule,” Karen Harbert, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy, said in a news release. “The regulation exemplified the worst of midnight rulemaking — unnecessary, costly and finalized on Dec. 20 — more than six weeks after Election Day.”
Although the ruling was not specifically about stream protection, “it was about blocking access to affordable energy,” the news release explained.
The rule had the potential to negatively impact communities that are involved in the energy and manufacturing sectors, the news release said, and to “drive up energy costs for families and businesses, (with) its impact would have been felt far beyond the coalfields.”
The source expected this ruling would harm others in opposing industries such as the restaurant industry and the hotel industry as well. Following this overturn, the Chamber plans to continue to fight for energy in the U.S. and advocate for the progression of this sector.
“We stand ready to assist in these efforts,” the release said.