Missouri will join more than 20 other states in suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its new carbon emission regulations, as soon as those regulations are out.
New Madrid coal-fired power plant. (image from ruralmissouri.coop)
Attorney General Chris Koster says he will join other state attorneys general in challenging what EPA calls its “Clean Power Plan.” Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives Vice President David Klindt says the final version of that rule would require Missouri to decrease emissions by 37-percent from 2012 levels; a 16-percent greater reduction than the proposed rule.
“That is the final rule and they are going to actually publish that, and whenever they do publish it, within a few days that’s when the lawsuits will be filed,” said Klindt.
In the meantime, Ryan Johnson with the conservative group Alliance for Freedom hopes the state legislature will not fund compliance with the power plan until court challenges have played out.
“Until it’s completely adjudicated and we have a decision we don’t think that the State of Missouri should have to comply, because there are real costs incurred, a real change in the infrastructure, in terms of compliance, said Johnson.
The plan allows each state to develop a compliance plan to meet its target.
Some conservatives are questioning whether Koster, a Democrat running for governor, has politics in mind in joining the suit. Johnson says he’s giving Koster the benefit of the doubt.
“We hope that Attorney General Koster pursues this vigorously and we hope that he’s motivated by serving the people of Missouri and not politics,” said Johnson. “Having said that, though, as a conservative, there is some skepticism on our part.”
Supporters of the plan say it would cut pollution and could be used to create jobs supporting the change to new energy sources.