India sets six-month import cap on key steelmaking ingredient met coke
India will impose restrictions on the import of low-ash metallurgical coke.
President Obama’s climate change plan has run up against some serious opposition among 24 states that are challenging it in federal court.
On Friday 24 states filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC claiming that the EPA over-reached its authority by demanding that, as part of the Clean Power Plan, states lower their carbon emissions. The suit is being led by West Virginia, a key coal-producing state. Other states challenging the plan include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Wisconsin.
Under the plan, new rules require that states lower their carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The regulations could mean some coal-fired power plants will have to shut down in order to meet the limits.
NBC News reports all but two of the states in the suit are led by Republicans. The legal challenge is being accompanied by other lawsuits, from Murray Energy Corp and the National Mining Association, a lobby group.
“The Clean Power Plan is one of the most far-reaching energy regulations in this nation’s history,” NBC quotes West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, among those leading the challenges. “I have a responsibility to protect the lives of millions of working families, the elderly and the poor, from such illegal and unconscionable federal government actions.”
“The immediacy of substantial harm from this power plant rule is plain from EPA’s own data that show it will cause more than 200 coal-fired power plants to close before courts have time to decide the legality of the rule,” Hal Quinn, president of the National Mining Association, said in a statement.
On the other side of the issue, 15 states plus the District of Columbia are backing the Obama administration and will start complying with the new rules, according to NBC.
On Friday EPA administrator Gina McCarthy defended the climate change plan, saying in a statement, “The Clean Power Plan has strong scientific and legal foundations, provides states with broad flexibilities to design and implement plans, and is clearly within EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act.”
The Clean Power Plan, made public in June 2014, is a centrepiece of the Obama administration’s climate change strategy. It is also the first time in U.S. history that a President imposed limits on power plant emissions, which could transform a sector that currently relies on coal for nearly 38 percent of electricity.
9 Comments
Mike Failla
Over reaching by a huge margin I would say! More states should be involved here as this will affect all of us one way or another.
Ian Bruce
BIG COAL will do everything possible to block the Clean Power Plan and keep all countries in the medieval era.
Ian Bruce
Thought I might get a bite, but that was quick!
patentbs
Take out the emotional known and unknown regarding the effect coal fired plants have on the environment. Then understand the lack of true input from the states into this act. Of course it will be argued in court. The timing is also an issue. that makes gas fired generation the ONLY option. Nothing else can be developed, permitted and built to displace 38% of the nation’s generating capacity within the next 15 years.
I am an environment guy but there is a better way to go!
dcurry
To ALL! It’s not about politics, Coal Mining, or any other reason except the cost of complying to the Clean Air Act in order to save the Earth from total disaster and the death of its inhabitants. The Power Plants and other industries simply do not want to spend the money needed to upgradre their systems to comply with the Clean Air Act and deal with the Climate Change disasters currently in progress. OK it is your decision but remember this, over protecting your bottom line makes no sense when not only the bottom line will disappear but so will the corporations and everyone on this planet!
WAKE UP!
David Thompson
The greens need to think about some other facts. Solar, wind or tidal require steel in their structures. Steel needs met coal to be made. Solar, wind and tidal currently do not power any steel mills or factories making steel or the finished products. Where would we be without thermal coal?
johnrolce
There is a certain energy demand, and it will be filled with or without coal. Those politicians mouthing about working families loosing income are demagogues bribed by coal lobbyes. They don’t give a s… about working people, just looking after their pockets. Any kind of energy production creates jobs.
rayban
This reminds of demilitarization years ago . We should drop our guns then only ‘they’ have guns … We should crack down on coal then only they have coal . 1 World no 2 worlds no 1 world no 2 worlds . Government worldwide is getting near all time new lows in smarts and credibility . Dolph shall be surpassed any year now and IEDY Amine the Cannibal Dictator may yet be revealed . They catch Kony yet ?
Ian Bruce
One and all. I threw my original comment in to stir up some discussion because mining forums are normally one-sided. It’s all about the transition from hydrocarbons to a broader and smarter energy mix. Surely we can use our oil and coal for better purposes than simply burning it and filling the atmosphere with smoke. Just ask the Chinese, who are diversifying away from coal power plants as fast as they can in a belated attempt to stop poisoning their populace. I live and work in big Asian cities and the air pollution is chronic, let alone Beijing which is unlivable. Or what about Germany, which aims to replace hydrocarbon power with nuclear in the short term until renewables come of age.
Renewables are coming of age faster than you think. In Australia rooftop PVs are sprouting like mushrooms and power banks are now coming available so that householders are starting to go off the grid and sell power back to the power utilities. Businesses are starting to follow. If Aus householders are doing it despite an unsupportive government, why not other countries? If you don’t have as much sunshine there is always hydro, wind or geothermal. Developing countries will adopt the technologies when the commercial viability is established or sooner, like China and India are aiming to do.
Sure we need petroleum for petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals etc., met coal for steel production and high grade coal or nuclear for power stations for heavy industry as long as required but don’t waste our resources by just burning them and killing us all slowly.
Don’t stand in the way of progress. Get on board.