Wisconsin and other states challenging federal rules aimed at reducing carbon emissions are praising a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, which put a hold on the policy until the legal disputes over the measure are settled.
Wisconsin is one of 27 states that filed suit against the EPA proposal, which would require them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by 2030. The state would have to cut emissions by 41 percent, if the requirement from President Obama’s administration were to stay in effect.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel said Tuesday’s 5-4 vote by the high court shows the White House “clearly exceeded” its authority in creating the rules. “It’s extraordinary for SCOTUS to grant a stay and is telling of the obvious illegality of the Clean Power Plan,” Schimel said in a statement.
Governor Scott Walker also praised the ruling, calling it “a win for Wisconsin and the other states joining with us in challenging the overreach of the Obama Administration.”
Environmentalists claimed the order may only cause a slight delay in implementing the new rules though, with a federal appeals court set to hear arguments in the challenge later this year.