America’s Power today filed a motion asking the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to stop implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new Carbon Rule until legal challenges to the rule have been resolved by the courts. This stay motion follows the filing of a petition to review the rule by America’s Power, twenty-seven states, and many other organizations. Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO of America’s Power, issued the following statement:
“EPA’s rule is designed with one purpose in mind: to force the premature retirement of most, if not all, coal-fired power plants in the U.S. The rule would accomplish this goal by offering utilities three no-win compliance options that lead to more coal retirements. These premature retirements are a clear threat to grid reliability, as grid operators have pointed out recently, and to the economic health of the nation’s coal supply chain. Our filing also points out that electricity demand is exploding because of economic growth, yet EPA’s new rule will shut down a large and dependable source of electricity.
It is critical that the courts stop EPA from implementing this illegal rule until all legal challenges can be settled. That is why America’s Power and many others have filed stay motions. Otherwise, utilities will be forced to spend millions to begin complying with an illegal rule. This is money that cannot be recovered later if the courts overturn the rule later. We believe that a stay of the rule is imperative to ensuring the continued reliability and affordability of America’s electricity supply.”
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America’s Power is a partnership of industries involved in producing electricity from coal.