Contact: Katie Kouchakji, press@ieta.org
LONDON, 10 February – Yesterday, the US Supreme Court granted a stay to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan pending further legal challenges. Commenting on the decision, IETA’s President and CEO Dirk Forrister says:
“Despite this ruling, the 2022 enforcement date remains unchanged at this stage. The decision just suspends temporarily the legal obligation for states to submit their implementation plans. While the ruling is procedural and not a direct comment on the substance of the rule , it shows that the Court has some reservations about the rule.
“The delay adds legal uncertainty about the rule that could have implications for investment planning. This in turn could have negative long-term implications for US emissions levels. This is why IETA has long preferred federal climate legislation that would provide stronger regulatory stability. Still, we will continue to work with our members, states and other interested parties on how market mechanisms can help interested states and regions to consider how to reduce emissions at lowest cost and drive the innovation that our future needs.
“As the recent Paris Agreement demonstrated, the need to act to cut emissions globally is not diminishing – and we are seeing others around the world taking action, from China to Canada. As governments move to implement the Paris Agreement, these ranks will continue to swell.”
