Texas AG to fight Clean Power Plan in court

Published 03:16 on May 6, 2015  /  Last updated at 03:16 on May 6, 2015  / /  Americas, US

Texas on Tuesday became the latest US state to announce it will file a lawsuit against the EPA’s plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants, which Attorney General Ken Paxton said imposed disproportionately hard targets on his state.

Texas on Tuesday became the latest US state to announce it will file a lawsuit against the EPA’s plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants, which Attorney General Ken Paxton said imposed disproportionately hard targets on his state.

The biggest-emitting US state becomes the 16th to challenge the plan in court, amid claims that the EPA is over-reaching and that its attempt to regulate state-level emissions is unlawful.

“Texas has proven we can improve air quality without damaging our economy or Texans’ pocketbooks. I will fight this ill-conceived effort that threatens the livelihood and quality of life of all Texans,” Paxton said in a statement.

The CPP requires Texas to cut emissions from power plants 38.4% by 2030, a demand Paxton said “would be vastly out of proportion to other states”.

“While Texas produces 11 percent of the electricity in the United States, under the proposed rules, Texas would be required to contribute 18 percent of the overall national reduction,” he said.

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