Sen. Joe Manchin's push to curb U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations on coal-fired power plants cleared its first hurdle this week, but he knows his biggest challenge will come from leaders of his own party.

Manchin, D-W.Va., expects the Electricity Security and Affordability Act - which cleared the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power - to gain approval from the full House. But he predicts the legislation, co-authored by Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., will face a "hard lift" in the Senate, where Manchin often has found himself at odds with fellow Democrats.

A new rule published last week, four months after EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy announced it was coming, would limit carbon dioxide emissions from future coal-fired power plants to 1,100 pounds per megawatt hour, about 35 percent less than the 1,700 pounds averaged by existing plants.

To read entire article, click here.