Supreme Court allows Biden’s EPA to enforce regulations on power plants

[Jack Aylmer]

THE SUPREME COURT HANDED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION A MAJOR WIN WEDNESDAY, ALLOWING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEW CLIMATE REGULATIONS AIMED AT CURBING CARBON EMISSIONS FROM POWER PLANTS.

THE COURT’S DECISION MEANS THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN TEMPORARILY ENFORCE THESE RULES, DESPITE EFFORTS FROM MORE THAN 20 REPUBLICAN-LED STATES AND INDUSTRY GROUPS TO BLOCK THEM.

THESE NEW EPA RULES REQUIRE EXISTING COAL PLANTS AND NEW NATURAL GAS PLANTS TO EITHER CUT OR CAPTURE 90-PERCENT OF THEIR CARBON POLLUTION BY THE YEAR 2032. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM THE POWER SECTOR BY A STAGGERING 75-PERCENT COMPARED TO 2005 LEVELS.

THE JUSTICES DENIED AN EMERGENCY REQUEST FROM THE STATES, MEANING THE RULES WILL STAY IN PLACE WHILE THE LOWER COURTS CONTINUE TO HEAR THE CASE. BUT THIS WASN’T A UNANIMOUS DECISION. JUSTICES BRETT KAVANAUGH AND NEIL GORSUCH AGREED THAT THE STATES HAVE A STRONG CASE BUT SAID THERE’S NO NEED FOR ACTION YET, SINCE PLANTS AREN’T REQUIRED TO MAKE CHANGES IMMEDIATELY.

THIS DECISION FOLLOWS SEVERAL SURPRISING VICTORIES FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES IN RECENT WEEKS. THE SUPREME COURT PREVIOUSLY LET STAND NEW REGULATIONS ON METHANE AND MERCURY EMISSIONS WITHOUT DISSENT.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THESE NEW RULES. REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARGUE THAT THE COSTS OF COMPLIANCE ARE TOO HIGH… WARNING THAT POWER PLANTS COULD BE FORCED TO CLOSE.

LEGAL BATTLES WILL CONTINUE, BUT FOR NOW, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S CLIMATE PLAN TAKES A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD, AIMING TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE POWER SECTOR’S CARBON FOOTPRINT OVER THE NEXT DECADE. 

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO OFFERING GENEROUS TAX SUBSIDIES TO HELP OFFSET THE COST OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M JACK AYLMER.