Graves Reacts to President's Energy Speech

Says administration's ‘war on coal' will hurt Missouri

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) today issued the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama's speech on energy issues at Georgetown University:

"The president laid all of his cards on the table today. As a White House Climate Adviser recently admitted, the administration believes that ‘a war on coal is exactly what's needed.' And that's precisely what the president announced today. Nowhere will this wrongheaded policy hurt worse than Missouri, where we use coal to power 82% of our electricity, and at the same time enjoy some of the most reliable and affordable power in the nation. The president's proposal will raise electricity costs for Missouri families, and threaten good-paying jobs here and across the country. I have long said we need an all-of-the-above strategy towards energy. Coal is a part of the solution, along with natural gas, renewable fuels, nuclear, conservation and increased oil exploration. Instead of trying to bankrupt energy companies, we need to embrace all of the options, and the president's plan fails to do that."

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