1. A lawsuit was filed by US Republican attorneys general and industry trade groups against the EPA to prevent a rule mandating carbon emission cuts from coal-fired power plants.
2. The Biden administration implemented a regulation requiring existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired plants to control 90% of their carbon pollution.
3. The lawsuit argues that the EPA does not have clear statutory authorization from Congress to make significant changes to the energy grid, and the regulation would have a significant impact on carbon emissions and public health benefits.
A group of 27 US Republican attorneys general and industry trade groups filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent significant cuts in carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. The lawsuit claims the regulation would require plants to capture emissions or shut down, imposing stricter standards under the Clean Air Act. Despite being rebuked by the Supreme Court, the regulation was implemented.
The Biden administration issued a final rule mandating existing coal-fired plants to control 90% of their carbon pollution. This move is part of efforts to tackle climate change, with officials stating that the US is projected to build more clean electric generation capacity. The administration sees this as a way to draw private investment, create clean energy jobs, and reduce carbon emissions.
The lawsuit argues that Congress has not given clear authorization to the EPA to revamp electricity grids, preventing the agency from exercising excessive regulatory power. On the other hand, the government defends the EPA’s standards as cost-effective measures to reduce carbon pollution and estimates significant benefits for climate and public health over the next two decades.