WASHINGTON – States and industry groups dependent on fossil fuels are lining up to file court challenges to President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman said Friday she’s joining other states in the lawsuit.
Coffman said Friday that she and attorneys general in 23 other states will file a single lawsuit saying the Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t have the authority to require states to enact pollution rules.
Coffman spokesman Roger Hudson says two other states are expected to file separate legal challenges.
A flurry of lawsuits was expected Friday at U.S. Court of Appeals as the Environmental Protection Agency published the final version of the new regulations. All but two of the 24 states filing challenges are led by Republicans. They deride the plan as an illegal overreach that will kill coal mining jobs and drive up electricity costs.
The Obama administration and environmental groups counter that the rules are needed to cut carbon emissions while curbing the worst impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. They also say the plan will spur new clean-energy jobs.
