Supreme Court halts EPA pollution abatement rule

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Feb. 9 heralded the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 order that put on hold a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule requiring power producers to cut back on the release of pollutants emitted mainly from coal-burning operations.

 

In reacting to the order, Paxton and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the leaders of a coalition of 29 states and state agencies, declared victory over the rule referred to as the Obama Administration’s “Clean Power Plan” or as the EPA “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units.”

 

Texas and West Virginia originally challenged the rule on Oct. 23, 2015, the day it was published in the Federal Register. The coalition requested a halt to rule on Jan. 26. Coalition members argue that the Clean Power Plan “fundamentally changes the nation’s energy policy in violation of federal law,” according to Paxton. “The Obama Administration clearly exceeded its authority in imposing this plan, which would cost taxpayers and consumers alike hard-earned money in exchange for lessreliable service,” Paxton added.