The Supreme Court on Tuesday voted to block President Obama’s Clean Power Plan until an appeals court can rule on legal challenges from states and industry groups. The decision puts on hold one of the key components of the president’s environmental agenda, perhaps until after he leaves office.
Under the plan, states are required to either submit their plans to reduce carbon emissions from power plants or file for a two-year extension by September. A federal appeals court will hear arguments in June, but the Supreme Court’s next term begins in October. Depending on how quickly the appeals court rules, the plan’s future could be left in the hands of Obama’s successor.
The rule aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 32% of 2005 levels by 2030. A coalition of states, utilities and coal miners is challenging the rule on the grounds that it oversteps the authority of the federal government.
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