Pam Bondi cheers Supreme Court halting President Obama’s Clean Power Plan

Some Utah agencies and politicians are applauding a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to put a hold on the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the Clean Power Plan violates Constitutional law, and their fight against it has nothing to do with climate change.

“The Court’s decision, and the special interests working to undermine this plan, threatens our environment, public health and economy”.

The Supreme Court took the side of the opposing states by issuing a “stay” against the Environmental Protection Agency’s new mandates on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. In fact, the case involved a Utah power plant operated by Deseret Power.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry bows as he attends the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) at Le Bourget, near Paris, France, Dec. 9, 2015.

North Dakota state Senator, Erin Oban says she is pleased with the Supreme Court decision and that coal power should stay in the picture for years to come.

Wind and solar accounted for 5.4 percent of the nation’s total energy mix in 2015, with growth driven primarily by renewable-energy targets set by individual states, federal tax credits and the falling costs of producing green power.

The Environmental Defense Fund, which is a party to the case, stressed in a statement that the court’s decision “does not reflect a decision on the merits” of the plan itself.

“One of reasons I want to talk about this is because in the last couple of days I’ve heard people say, ‘The Supreme Court struck down the Clean Power Plant rule, ‘” Obama said in California. The D.C. Circuit has scheduled argument in lawsuits brought by 27 states and several utility industry groups opposed to the rule for June 2, with the possibility for additional argument June 3.

The Supreme Court issued its short order putting the rule on hold at the request of states and companies that had asked the high court to intercede early – even though a lower court had already declined to do so.