June 09, 2011

Manchin Statement on Planned Closure of 3 American Electric Power Plants in West Va.

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today released the following statement upon learning that American Electric Power plans to shut down three plants in West Virginia, resulting in 242 lost jobs. 

“My heart truly goes out to the hardworking men and women who have spent years working at American Electric Power and are now facing an uncertain future,” Senator Manchin said. “My office is ready and prepared to help these hardworking West Virginians and their families in any way that we can.

“Let me be clear, it’s decisions like the one made by AEP today that demonstrate the urgent need to rein in government agencies like the EPA, preventing them from overstepping their bounds and imposing regulations that not only cost us good American jobs, but hurt our economy. Onerous regulations issued by the EPA are the reason that 242 West Virginians will lose their jobs, and that’s simply wrong.

“It is because of out-of-control agencies like the EPA as well as the need to protect American jobs that I sponsored the REINS Act - a commonsense measure that will help protect and create jobs by reigning in needless or burdensome regulations, and that will put responsibility back where it belongs – in the hands of the people who are elected to govern and lead this great nation.”

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