WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis says the Chinese government is trying to kneecap America’s coal and oil production, and she has introduced legislation to stop it.
The Wyoming Republican is pushing back against China’s recent participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s rulemaking procedures pertaining to fossil fuels.
China submitted comments in August opposing EPA proposals to ease emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired power plants, according to documents from Lummis’s office.
Lummis’s bill would prevent foreign adversaries as designated by the Commerce Department — China among them — from submitting public comments or otherwise petitioning federal agencies on rulemakings, regardless of subject matter.
Cannot Be Trusted
Along with China, the foreign adversaries list includes Russia, Iran, North Korea and Venezuela.
Those countries “cannot be trusted to submit comments in good faith, and I believe we must eliminate avenues where they have influence over our rulemaking process,” Lummis told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
Although her bill pertains to all rulemakings — not just those dealing with the energy sector — the China comments bearing negatively on the fossil fuel industries touched a nerve. Wyoming is by far the leading coal-producing state in the nation and consistently ranks in the top 10 annually for both crude oil and natural gas production.
“China has submitted comments pushing for stricter power plant rules to hobble American energy, while doing the exact opposite at home to power their own economy,” Lummis said in a statement earlier this week as she unveiled the legislation.
“My bill ensures our regulatory process serves the American people, not communist regimes trying to keep Biden-era regulations in place to undermine our energy independence and economic strength,” she said.
AI, Data Centers
The fast-growing use of artificial intelligence has triggered a proliferation of power-hungry data centers. Lummis noted President Donald Trump has prioritized U.S.-based AI development — something Lummis says requires robust coal- and oil-fired power plants in America.
“President Trump has made it clear that winning the AI war is a critical priority, and China's blatant support for Biden's green energy policies is obviously aimed at hampering U.S. energy production, not strengthening it,” she told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
The written comments from China — specifically from Jiao Yang, an official representing China in the World Trade Organization — deal with three EPA rulemakings.
In addition to two pertaining to power plants, another centers on the amount of feedstock that must be added to petroleum-based motor fuels.
Joe Jackson, a Lummis spokesman, said Friday that one of the rules pertaining to power plants is now final, and the other two are still awaiting approval.
Barrasso Bill Similar
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, introduced a bill in July that is similar to the Lummis measure.
But instead of pertaining to rulemaking on all subject matter as Lummis’s bill does, Barrasso’s measure focuses on public lands, Barrasso spokeswoman Laura Mengelkamp said Friday.
“The rules and regulations coming out of Washington have a significant impact on Wyoming’s farmers, ranchers, landowners, and energy industry,” Barrasso said in a statement Friday to Cowboy State Daily. “Their voices and opinions should be the top priority of the administration during public comment periods. Instead, foreign adversaries and Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots have sabotaged the public comment process.”
Added Barrasso: “Bad actors, like Russia and China, are given the green light to influence policy and keep us from producing American energy. Both my legislation and Senator Lummis’ bill are focused on ending foreign interference and making sure only the American people have a say in the future of our energy, environmental and federal lands policies.”
Barrasso’s bill has yet to go to the Senate floor, though the chamber’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on it this month.
Lummis’ bill, co-sponsored by Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Lummis will work with that panel’s chairman, Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, to help move the measure to the floor, according to Jackson, the Lummis spokesman.
Hageman Sees Direct Threat
On the House side, Lummis’ bill has a companion measure sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Alabama.
That measure is in the House Judiciary Committee, on which Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman serves.
Hageman will get a chance to weigh in if Ohio Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary chairman, calls it up.
"When the [Chinese Communist Party] weighs in on U.S. energy rules, they are not acting out of environmental concern, but they are acting out of pure self-interest,” Hageman told Cowboy State Daily on Friday.
“Any effort to restrict our power supply directly threatens America’s ability to build out data centers, expand the AI industry, and maintain our economic strength,” Hageman said. “Our regulations must reflect the interests of the American people, not China.”
Sean Barry can be reached at sean@cowboystatedaily.com.
