WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today said Congress—not the EPA—should set CO2 emission standards. The Senator has time and time again opposed the EPA acting alone to reduce carbon emissions. 

“While it is important to reduce carbon in the atmosphere, this should not be achieved by EPA regulations. Congress should set the terms, goals and timeframe. Greater use of natural gas and stronger efficiency measures adopted by the industry have already helped us reduce carbon emissions to their lowest levels in 20 years, and this should continue. I will work with leaders of both parties to build on the progress we have already made,” Sen. Landrieu said. 

Last month, Sen. Landrieu sent a letter to President Obama calling on his administration to revise the New Source Performance Standards that would undermine the development of clean coal technologies. Read the letter here. 

Sen. Landrieu has long fought attempts to establish a cap and trade system. In 2010, she was the key vote that blocked efforts to establish a cap and trade system in the United States.