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Appeals court halts Clean Power Plan at request of Trump administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There will be no federal appeals court decision in the near on the Clean Power Plan following an order issued Friday.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ordered a hold on the final decision while the Trump administration’s EPA works to do away with the Clean Power Plan. The court granted a request from the Trump administration.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey applauded the move.

“Today’s decision by the court is a positive step toward protecting West Virginia coal miners and those who depend upon their success. The court recognized the landscape has changed and that a decision on the merits is not appropriate at this time,” Morrisey said in a statement released by his office. “We appreciate the Trump Administration’s willingness to review the devastating impact of the so-called Clean Power Plan, and further appreciate the court giving due time to hear the new administration’s take on this unlawful regulation.”

The controversial rule aimed to reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants by over 30 percent by the year 2030, in accordance with targets of  a global climate agreement signed in Paris in 2015.

West Virginia was the first state to challenge the plan in October 2015 after it was announced by the EPA under former President Barack Obama. The U.S. Supreme Court Court put a hold on the plan in February 2016 and oral arguments were held before the federal appeals court last September.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said the ruling will help prevent further job losses.

“This ruling will allow us to work with the Environmental Protection Agency to find common sense solutions and achieve a balance between the environment and the economy. We all want clean air and clean water,” Manchin said. “That’s why I look forward to finding answers to our energy challenges that will create jobs, utilize all energy sources, and develop clean energy technology that we can develop right here in West Virginia.”

Third District Congressman Evan Jenkins also released a statement Friday applauding the pause.

“After eight years of radical environmental policies from the White House, we now have a president focused on bringing coal jobs back. The so-called Clean Power Plan is one of the Obama administration’s key anti-coal policies, and the court made the right decision in giving the administration more time to roll back this job-killing rule,” Jenkins said.





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