US Utilities Challenge Trump Power Plant Rule



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(Reuters) – Con Edison and eight other US utilities, mostly from Democratic states, challenged the Trump government's plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, which replaces a much harsher regime, in court from the Obama era.

The New York-based electricity company said in a statement Monday that the ACE (Affordable Clean Energy) rule was jeopardizing ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by investing in renewable energy, infrastructure and energy. of electric vehicles and energy efficiency, as well as in other clean technologies.

The utility group, called the Coalition for the Climate of Electricity Companies, has already invested heavily in adopting these technologies because the governments of its states have passed laws requiring it to adopt large amounts of electricity. renewable energies such as wind and solar energy.

In addition to Con Ed, the coalition includes Exelon Corp., National Grid, PG & E Corp., Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., Los Angeles Department of Water and Electricity, Seattle City Light, Los Angeles District municipal utilities in Sacramento and the New York Power Authority. Together, they serve more than 23 million customers in 49 states.

Similar action was brought by states and democratic cities in August.

The Utility Group's motion was filed on September 6 before the District Court of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeal but was not widely reported at the time.

In a statement released on the day of the petition's filing, the coalition said the ACE's regulation of the Environmental Protection Agency "does not recognize the way they and others in the industry are doing." Have already reduced their carbon emissions while maintaining their reliability. "

The rule, finalized in June of this year, aims to help coal companies facing fierce competition from renewable energy suppliers. It gives states three years to develop their own emission reduction plans, primarily by encouraging coal plants to improve their efficiency.

Obama's plan for cleaner food was aimed at reducing the carbon emissions of power plants by more than a third from 2005 levels by 2030 by pushing utilities to abandon coal. This bylaw has never been adopted as a result of lawsuits brought by Republican majority states.

(Report by Nichola Groom, edited by Sonya Hepinstall)

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