The U.S. Supreme Court recently halted implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan before it had been judicially reviewed, a historical first.
Thus, states do not have to enforce the rule until it goes through lower courts and the high court, whose move suggests it ultimately will be struck down.
The American Energy Alliance (AEA) has laid out a case for why states should not comply with the Clean Power Plan.
The group said the Clean Power Plan would do little to help the climate while raising the price of electricity, which could hurt consumers, specifically those with low incomes. The EPA has acknowledged both effects would result from the regulations.
Furthermore, natural gas prices are dropping and coal prices are staying the same, while electricity prices are going up for consumers. AEA wants states to investigate this trend, instead of implementing new EPA regulations.
The AEA also said states should not invest any resources in implementing any Clean Power, despite gentle urging from EPA to do so while the case winds through the courts. AEA notes that the next president, whoever it may be, might take the rule in a different direction and so such uncertainty with the Clean Power Plan should encourage states to take a wait-and-see approach.
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