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The coalition
requested the incoming Republican government undo the Clean
Power Plan enacted by the current Democratic administration. The
law was designed to lower carbon emissions mainly from
coal-fired power plants by 2030 to 32 percent below 2005 levels.
The Supreme Court has ordered a delay in implementation until
legal challenges to the regulation are completed.
The group, headed by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick
Morrisey and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, suggests
Congress take action to prevent the Environmental Protection
Agency from drafting similar regulations in the future.
"The order (to withdraw the plan) should explain that it is the
administration's view that the (Clean Power Plan) is unlawful
and that EPA lacks authority to enforce it. The executive order
is necessary to send an immediate and strong message to States
and regulated entities that the administration will not enforce
the rule," according to Morrisey.
Trump's potential Cabinet is filling with nominees from top
fossil fuel-producing states. He tapped Oklahoma Attorney
General Scott Pruitt, an ardent opponent of Obama's measures to
curb climate change, to run the Environmental Protection Agency
and Rick Perry, a climate skeptic and former governor of Texas,
to head the Department of Energy.
Trump has promised to revive oil and gas drilling and coal
mining by cutting back on federal regulations. He also has said
he would pull the United States out of a global deal to curb
emissions of carbon dioxide, which an overwhelming number of
scientists say contribute to changes to the climate that are
leading to sea level rise, droughts and more frequent violent
storms.
(Reporting by Vijaykumar Vedala in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa
Shumaker)
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