Officials with Kankakee Valley REMC are pleased with Tuesday’s Supreme Court stay of proposed coal industry regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan sought to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.
Officials from KVREMC, Indiana Electric Cooperatives and their transmission provider, Wabash Valley Power Association, maintain the EPA has exceeded its authority under the Clean Air Act. They contend the EPA has not taken into account the cost burden and lack of viable technology needed to comply with the Clean Power Regulations. Had the plan been implemented, consumer rate hikes were anticipated.
Last October, Indiana joined a coalition of states challenging the legality of the Clean Power Plan.
Gov. Pence calls the Supreme Court’s decision to put the plan on hold “a win for Indiana.” He adds the state will continue to use every legal means available to fight what he calls “President Obama’s war on coal.”
Indiana Electric Cooperatives CEO Tom VanParis says the stay allows the court time to fully examine the complex rule and issue a judgment on its legality, while allowing electric cooperatives to avoid irreversible and costly changes to electric utility infrastructure.”
