Dive Brief:
- Two major Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act rules affecting coal-fired power plants are being reviewed in court today.
- The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments over the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which aims to cut sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions in 28 eastern states.
- A federal court is hearing oral arguments on EPA's mercury and air toxics rule to see if the standard should remain in place as written, sent back to EPA for changes or struck down.
Dive Insight:
“This is the biggest day for clean air in American courts -- ever,” John Walke, Natural Resources Defense Council clean air director, said.
While the rules have been delayed by lawsuits, utilities and generators have been preparing for the standards by adding pollution control equipment to their plants and making resource decisions.
EPA plans to issue greenhouse gas emissions standards for existing power plants in June. You can bet those standards will end up in court. These are good times for environmental lawyers.