"Republican attorneys general from 27 U.S. states and industry trade groups sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday, seeking to block a landmark rule requiring sweeping reductions in carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas plants.
The rule, finalized by President Joe Biden's administration last month as part of an effort to combat climate change, was challenged in multiple lawsuits filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, including one by 25 states spearheaded by West Virginia and Indiana and another by Ohio and Kansas. Electric utility, mining and coal industry trade groups also filed lawsuits.
The rule mandates that many new gas and existing coal plants reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2032. The requirements are expected to force the U.S. power industry to install billions of dollars' worth of emissions control technologies or shut down the dirtiest facilities running on coal.
The regulations are part of Biden’s broader climate agenda and target a sector that is responsible for nearly a quarter of the country's greenhouse gas pollution."
Clark Mindock reports for Reuters May 9, 2024.
SEE ALSO:
"Red States and Coal Groups Fight Biden Power Plant Rule" (Bloomberg Environment)