WFU Sustainability Experts React to Supreme Court’s Decision on Clean Power Plan

The Supreme Court issued the emergency order Tuesday to block temporarily implementation of the EPA rule, which would require states to reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Obama’s previous year in office could have one big failure, thanks to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Yet it would be a mistake to exaggerate the effect of a disappointing Supreme Court ruling. Some other states-particularly those with low coal-fired power plant inventories-may continue voluntary implementation plan development, because they may perceive a competitive advantage to be in front of other states in renewable energy investments. McCarthy says she “remains fully confident in the legal merits of this rule”, and claims the Supreme Court’s stay “doesn’t mean they spoke to the merits” of the CPP. With this ruling, by most accounts, the high court made an extraordinary decision to stop a regulation before a lower court could even issue its own decision.

Heather Zichal served as deputy assistant for Energy and Climate Change for President Barack Obama.

While some states have said the rules are over-reaching, Mills contended that the Clean Power Plan respects state regulation of energy, while addressing unsafe pollutants.

Compliance with the new emissions rules isn’t required until 2022, but states must submit their detailed plans for meeting the required reductions to the EPA by September or seek an extension.

“The Clean Power Plan is one way to get there, but it’s not the only way”, Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, said in a telephone interview.

The administration and some environmental groups put up a fearless face in reaction to the stay.

The congressional Republicans were pleased with the court was confirmed to halt the rule and they expressed their approval after the decision was announced. She says despite the delay, many states are moving ahead with plans to cut emissions, knowing there is strong public support. “We’re optimistic the power plan will ultimately be rejected”.

Through prior EPA regulations, “Georgia utilities have already reduced our carbon footprint by 30 percent”, he added. We were developing renewable resources before it was cool, and we didn’t do it because the government said we had to: “we did it because we knew it was best for our members”, Stephens said. Utilities have decommissioned at least seven coal-powered plants and have converted others to natural gas, and several new gas plants are operating, under construction or planned. Getting their appeals through the courts could take more than a year, by which time there will be a new president and some changes in Congress – and that could lead to a new administration dumping the entire plan.

The Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has yet to hear oral arguments and will evaluate arguments in hearings scheduled for June 2.

In Secretary Clinton’s opening statement, she mentioned “poison in the water of the children of Flint” and the “poor miners who are being left out and left behind in coal country”.

It doesn’t eliminate fossil fuels: Fossil fuels will remain part of the energy economy but will be cleaner and more efficient.