EPA optimistic about clean power plan despite Supreme Court stay

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the Supreme Court's decision to block the agency's Clean Power Plan (CPP) doesn't mean it will fail. The EPA remained optimistic about its plan to reduce greenhouse emissions from existing power plants.

On Tuesday Feb. 9, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the CPP for at least a year. The stay effectively invalidates the September 2016 dealine for states to submit implementation plans, at least until resolution of the pending legal challenges to the CPP.

The EPA's CPP is a key part of the Obama administration's effort to reduce greenhouse emissions, as promised at the global summit held in Paris last December.  CPP aims to reduce gas emissions from the power sector to 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, the Hill reports.

One of CPP's main strategies is switching power generation from coal to natural gas. It would improve coal plant efficiency and deploy renewable energy. The EPA estimated that the regulations will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 870 million tons by 2030 when full compliance is required.

However, the CPP has been facing legal actions even long before the regulations were issued. The regulations meet opponents from the coal and utility industries. EPA's opponents argued that the regulations would force coal-fired power plants to close before the legality of the CPP could be determined.

According to The Conversation, the high court stay will delay some state efforts to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which the CPP requires. It will not entirely halt the ongoing adoption of cleaner energy sources in the U.S., but it sends unfortunate signal to the rest of the world after the Paris global summit.

According to Energy Business Law, the stay decision signals that a majority of the Supreme Court is symphatetic to the claims that the CPP is unlawful.  The stay also forces the EPA to devote additional resources to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from other sources.

EPA said that agency firmly believes the CPP will be upheld "when the merits are considered because the rule rests on strong scientific and legal foundations." The agency said it will continue to provide tools and support for the states that choose to continue to work to cut carbon pollution from power plants.

EPA will make available the Clean Power Plan "toolbox", the website resources to help develop state plans, for states that intend to continue with the planning process.

Tags

EPA, Clean Power Plan, Supreme Court, power plant, Obama Administration, High Court

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