U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) stood up for Arizona’s rural residents’ welfare by joining in the House vote Tuesday to overturn two controversial Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules concerning power plant carbon emissions.

“The EPA’s rigid overreach has the potential to greatly harm families throughout Cochise County - especially those who can least afford it - through blackouts, higher rates and the loss of good-paying jobs,” McSally said. “Today’s votes rightfully check that overreach. When you live in remote and often hard to reach areas, like many Southern Arizonans do, access to affordable and reliable energy is a necessity. I will continue to fight for the priorities of our rural residents and to give our energy producers the flexibility they need.”

The two resolutions on existing and new power plants, previously authorized by the Senate, now go to the president’s desk. McSally is a co-sponsor of both House companion resolutions, which will help ensure protected operations at the Apache Generating Station near Willcox.

“Congresswoman McSally has taken a lead role in working to protect Arizona’s rural electric cooperatives and the Apache Generating Station from overreaching regulations that threaten the livelihood and well-being of rural people,” Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives CEO Patrick Ledger said. “Arizona’s rural communities are made up of residents, small businesses, industry, agriculture, hospitals, schools and many other entities, all of which are still struggling to recover from the recession.”

Ledger said Arizona’s jurisdictions have deeply invested in facilities that could face unnecessary replacement.

“(S)ome of the hardest-hit economies in the nation could be paying some of the highest electric rates because of this ill-conceived rule,” Ledger said. “We want to thank Congresswoman McSally for co-sponsoring (the two measures).”