COLUMBUS, Ohio—U.S. EPA head Andrew Wheeler met with local energy officials Friday to roll out the “Affordable Clean Energy rule.”

• ACE diversifies power grid and empowers states to reduce emissions
• Supporters say it rolls back red tape that’s bad for business
• Critics say it doesn’t do enough to stop energy companies’ contributions to climate change

“It’s less about business, and more about the consumer—that we don’t have shock when consumers get their electric bills,” said Wheeler.

The rule is the latest battle in a crusade to dismantle Obama-era environmental protections.

“We are gathered here today because the American people elected a president with a better approach,” said Wheeler.

The plan will serve as a shot in the arm for Ohio’s coal industry, and help further buoy our state’s fiscally troubled nuclear power plants.

“I am personally a big fan of nuclear energy,” said Wheeler. “I’ve been to the nuclear plants here in Ohio, earlier in my career, I’ve always thought they were well managed and well run,” said Wheeler.

The plan comes just days after the state Senate passed a $150 million bailout for those plants. The plan still has to be taken up by the House.

Wheeler says the aim of the ACE is to diversify our power grid, while putting state regulators in the driver’s seat.

“I really do think it’s important that we have flexibility with our fuel sources and that we have a level playing field,” said Wheeler. “It’s not the EPA’s role to dictate what the types of fuel mixes should be… it’s more of a state issue, but I’m glad Ohio is taking the lead to solve this issue, but it’s really up to the states,” said Wheeler.

While Obama’s plan aimed to cut emissions 32 percent by 2030, the ACE would only cut emissions between 0.7 and 1.5 percent.

Critics of this new plan say that this has a short-term goal that it’s really beneficial to business, but really isn’t keeping the environment in check here.

Wheeler disagrees.

"This will reduce C02 emissions 33 to 35 percent below 2005 levels…we’ve already reduced our emissions from C02 15 percent… the United States is doing more to reduce C02 emissions than most other developed countries around the world,” said Wheeler.