U.S. Supreme Court upholds power plant pollution rule; Texas led opposition
The U.S. Supreme Court bolstered President Barack Obama’s environmental agenda, upholding a rule designed to curb emissions from coal-fired power plants in 28 states.
The justices, voting 6-2 to overturn a lower court, said the rule was within the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority under the Clean Air Act. The regulation targets air pollution that crosses state lines.
The decision may prompt utilities such as Southern Co. and American Electric Power Co. to shutter coal-fired power plants, as it would require them to install more pollution-control systems, according to Rob Barnett, an energy analyst for Bloomberg Government. The administration says the rule will prevent as many as 34,000 premature deaths a year.
Attorneys general from 14 states, led by Texas, challenged the rule alongside Energy Future Holdings Corp.’s Luminant, Entergy Corp., Edison International, Peabody Energy Corp., AEP, Southern and the United Mine Workers of America.
More at http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20140429-u.s.-supreme-court-upholds-power-plant-pollution-rule-texas-led-opposition.ece .
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