Posted on 04/30/2014 9:35:39 AM PDT by Red Steel
(CNN) -- A key part of the Obama administration's green policies received surprisingly strong Supreme Court support on Tuesday over efforts to curb air pollution.
A 6-2 majority of justices issued a decision upholding federal agency rules to control coal-fired power plant emissions from 28 states. Obama takes on coal industry
It was a rare environmental victory in a conservative majority court that has in recent years generally sided against the federal government's nationwide clean air policies.
The issue was complex -- whether an "upwind" state that is polluting a "downwind" state is free of any obligations under the so-called Good Neighbor provision, unless and until federal regulators have quantified the upwind state's contribution to downwind state's air pollution problems.
The case was an important test of federal regulatory power, and the rules issued two years ago by the Environmental Protection Agency were challenged by a coalition of 15 states, as well as several energy companies and labor unions. Photos: Supreme Court cases that changed America Photos: Supreme Court cases that changed America Photos: Today\'s Supreme Court Photos: Today's Supreme Court
Leaders in some mostly conservative states say lost jobs and higher energy costs are at stake from what they see as arbitrary and ambiguously enforced regulations.
But the administration and its environmental allies counter Americans' health should come first, and that as many as 45,000 deaths could be prevented each year if the Cross-State Pollution Rule would be allowed to take effect.
The high court agreed to a large extent.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
who is still deluded enough to call SCOTUS conservative?
“Energy costs will necessarily skyrocket.” Thanks, SCOTUS, for reaming us yet again.
Since when is politically motivated spelled arbitrary?
Parity of energy costs and availability took it in the shorts ... again. The idiots are sawing off the branch they’re sitting on.
Not the branch they are sitting on. They will always be nice and cozy in their taxpayer funded lives. They are sawing off the branch that WE are sitting on!
“...rare environmental victory...”? WTH? Now the epa will need a new division to regulate air flow across state lines. Maybe they can regulate some of those tornados that have played havoc in the south in the last few days. Restrict them from crossing state lines. Fine states if rainfall crosses statelines. The possibilities are almost endless.
Take a look at the downwind states, their energy rates and availability especially during a bad winter.
Roberts on the wrong side ... again.
Nixon’s gift that keeps on giving.
Rare? Best some folks look up the definition of that word. The Supremes are backing Obama on every case so far.
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