U.S. States, Industry Stakeholders Ask Supreme Court To Halt EPA Rule While Litigation Moves Forward
After a federal circuit court ruled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can continue implementation of its Clean Power Plan while legal challenges to it play themselves out, several U.S. states and industry stakeholders last week took matters into their own hands and petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the circuit court order and stay the rule (keep the rule from moving forward during the litigation period). On Tuesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the National Mining Association, 25 states and 61 utilities all submitted a motions to stay.
The Supreme Court has asked the EPA to respond by the afternoon of Feb. 4. The Supreme Court, however, does not have to act on any certain timetable so it is unclear when it will rule on this matter.
As a reminder, MSCI opposes this rule and is working with its partners at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and NAM to oppose it. With NAM, MSCI also is committed to reducing greenhouse gases. Nationwide, manufacturers have helped bring about a 10 percent nationwide reduction in annual emissions since 2005.