"E.P.A. Finalizes Its Plan to Replace Obama-Era Climate Rules"

"WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a package of new rules to replace the Clean Power Plan, former President Barack Obama’s signature effort to reduce planet-warming emissions from coal plants.

The new measure, known as the Affordable Clean Energy rule, will very likely prompt a flurry of legal challenges from environmental groups that could have far-reaching implications for global warming. If the Supreme Court ultimately upholds the rule’s approach to the regulation of pollution, it would be difficult or impossible for future presidents to tackle climate change through the Environmental Protection Agency.

Jody Freeman, a professor of environmental law at Harvard University and a former legal counsel in the Obama administration, said the expected legal battle would be “a blockbuster” if it reached the Supreme Court. “It could foreclose a new administration from doing something more ambitious,” she said. "

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times June 19, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"Wheeler Rolls Out Carbon Rule, Girds For Lawsuits" (Greenwire)

"Trump EPA Rolls Back Obama Rule On Coal-Fired Power Plants" (AP)

"Trump Admin's Carbon Rule Faces Legal War" (EnergyWire)

"Cost of ACE Could Eclipse Benefits By $980M A Year" (ClimateWire)

"Democrats Shout, Shrug at EPA Carbon Rule" (E&E Daily)

"The Latest: EPA Chief Expects New Coal-Fired Plants To Open" (AP)

"Carbon Rule: How Will EPA Show Deaths From Soot?" (ClimateWire)

"Trump EPA Finalizes Rollback Of Key Obama Climate Rule That Targeted Coal Plants" (Washington Post)

"Trump’s Weaker Clean Power Plan Replacement Won't Stop Coal’s Decline" (InsideClimate News)

"Trump Administration Replaces Obama-Era Power Plant Rule, In Boost To Coal" (Reuters)

"Trump’s EPA Just Replaced Obama’s Signature Climate Policy With A Much Weaker Rule" (Vox)

"Trump Rolls Back Obama’s Biggest Climate Rule" (Politico)

"EPA Sees Falling Emissions, But Not From Its Climate Plan" (ClimateWire)

 

Source: NY Times, 06/20/2019