NH to defend clean power plan

New Hampshire has joined 17 states to defend the federal “Clean Power Plan” in court.

Many other states and industry groups have filed a lawsuit against the Clean Power Plan, which requires fossil fuel power plants to cut their carbon dioxide emissions.

The state Department of Environmental Services says New Hampshire is on track to fulfill the Clean Power Plan through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. 

A press release from the New Hampshire Attorney General states, “For many years, New Hampshire regulators and industry have worked together to address greenhouse gas emissions in a responsible and cost-effective manner through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (‘RGGI’) and by emphasizing the inclusion of renewables in our energy portfolio. The Clean Power Plan recognizes the value of these programs and will help bring the rest of the nation in line with reasonable greenhouse gas reduction goals.” 

Opponents of the Clean Power Plan argue it goes beyond the authority of the federal government to regulate how states choose to generate electricity. 

In a press release about the lawsuit Oklahoma Attorney General E. Scott Pruitt said, “The EPA has no authority under the Clean Air Act to achieve what it proposes in the 111(d) rule. It’s an attempt by the administration to transfer decision-making on the fuels used to generate power from state policy makers to bureaucrats at the EPA. The results will be financially harmful for states and consumers ultimately will pay the price through much-higher utility rates and a less reliable power supply.” 

Do you think New Hampshire should defend the Clean Power Plan?  Comment below!