Ohio Attorney General “Rolling Back Progress” By Joining Anti-Clean Power Plan Lawsuit

CHICAGO (October 22, 2015) — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has signaled he will drag the state into a fight against efforts to combat dangerous carbon pollution by joining a lawsuit to challenge the Clean Power Plan. Today’s publication of the final standards in the Federal Register gives opponents the green light to oppose the law in court. Ohio has also indicated it will be going down a more constructive, simultaneous path of developing a state compliance plan.

Experts believe opponents are unlikely to derail the landmark climate plan especially since three Supreme Court rulings in eight years have affirmed EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

The following is a statement by Samantha Williams, Staff Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“Ohio’s years of investment in its clean energy industry have fueled job growth, strengthened local economies and generated immeasurable health benefits for communities across the state. Any actions taken to stymie clean air and the clean energy industry will only roll back the progress Ohio worked so hard to build.”

More info can be found in Samantha Williams’ blog here: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/swilliams/on_the_eve_of_clean_power_plan.html

An issue brief explaining the high bar that legal challengers have to clear to get a stay of the carbon pollution standards, “What to Expect in Clean Power Plan Litigation,” is here: http://www.nrdc.org/air/clean-power-plan/litigation.asphttp://www.nrdc.org/air/clean-power-plan/litigation.asp

NRDC’s analysis of litigation challenges to EPA Clean Air Act initiatives under the Obama Administration is here: http://www.nrdc.org/air/clean-power-plan/files/CAA-rules-and-litigation-table.pdf

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