In a 5-4 decision the U.S. Supreme Court has put a stay on plan until legal issues with it are figured out. “Governor Wolf’s spokesman Jeff Sheridan says the Supreme Court’s decision will not impact the state’s ongoing efforts to comply with the CPP”. Those regulations cost consumers nearly $10 billion per year, and many power plants were shuttered in the years between when the EPA issued the rule and the Supreme Court overturned them.
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They are concerned that any significant pause in implementing mandated reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants will imperil the credibility of the Unites States to lead on climate change, while increasing worries both at home and overseas that the whole global agreement might unravel if a Republican wins the White House in November.
Tong said the coal industry plays a massive role in the larger US economy; it is foundational to our electricity system and way of living.
The justices’ move signals that the conservative majority is at least open to the argument made by the states that the administration’s plan is an overreach of executive power. It focuses on a section of the plan set out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that allows states to measure emissions cuts from a variety of sources “beyond the fence line” of power plants, including gains from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey described the Supreme Court action on Tuesday as a “historic and unprecedented victory” over the EPA.
“The centerpiece of our climate action plan involves working with states like California to come up with a strategy for reducing their carbon emissions”, Obama said.
The state plan is being hashed out by the Clean Power Plan Shareholders Group, which includes power company representatives, environmentalists and state officials. He says it’s the first time the Supreme Court has halted an EPA regulation before a federal appeals court reviews it. “We remain confident when this is given its day in court it will be upheld on its merits”.
“This gives us a chance now if we can find the technology”, said Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, .
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“It is no surprise that the suit over the Clean Power Plan was brought by proponents of the coal industry”.
