Senator Isabelle Megosh

S.

116th Congress
First Session
In the United States Senate

The Megosh Vital Energy Protection Act

A Bill to provide federal subsidies to baseload coal plants to states in the west.

Whereas​ the federal government has provided subsidies to eastern states in the past for the purpose of
boosting the coal industry and protecting the national electrical grid. These subsidies have not included
western states such as Wyoming which contains 41% of the country’s coal production.
Whereas​ the coal industry has seen declines in coal usage and large numbers of coal power plants have
been shut down. This causes the coal market to move overseas which does not stimulate the national
economy in as effective a manner as a strong domestic coal market. Subsidies would keep coal plants
operating longer and keep the coal market from moving overseas.
Whereas ​the coal industry needs to be strong enough to provide energy for the national electrical grid in
case of a threat to national security such as a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. The subsidies provided
to eastern states for the purpose of an emergency provide energy for only a portion of the United States;
therefore, western states need subsidies so that all of the national grid can be covered if there is an
emergency.
Whereas​ current Environmental Protection Agency regulations on coal plants limit the production of
coal. The production cuts have resulted in large layoffs across coal plants in western states. Other workers
were laid off and rehired with less pay, less benefits, and only a temporary position. Subsidies would
provide more money to continue production and create jobs.
Whereas​ the coal industry has lost billions of revenue with the closings of coal plants that could be
regained with the support of federal subsidies.

Now, therefore, be it hereby enacted,​ That the Senate shall provide federal subsidies to baseload coal
plants to states in the west--
(1) cut 4 billion dollars from NASA’s 2020 federal budget for climate change research to provide
money for federal subsidies.
(2) identify western states that qualify for federal subsidies. These states are as followed, in order of
most coal produced to least coal produced, Wyoming, Kentucky, Illinois, Montana, Texas,
Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Oklahoma, Tennessee,
Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas. If these states have qualifying coal plants, they can receive
subsidies.
(3) the amount of funds given to each state is calculated by the amount of coal plants in the state, the
amount of coal produced annually, and the revenue coal brings in for the state.
(4) the states have the right to determine the manner in which funds are distributed and how to
calculate how much funds are given to coal plants within the state.
(5) the states can only give the subsidies to baseload coal plants that hold fuel on site for 90 days.