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Kentucky Officials Vow to Fight New EPA Rules

Kentucky Officials Vow to Fight New EPA Rules
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By The Associated Press/West Kentucky Star Staff
Aug. 03, 2015 | WASHINGTON, DC
By The Associated Press/West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 03, 2015 | 04:26 PM | WASHINGTON, DC
Opponents are vowing to sue the government, in order to block a new plan aimed at dramatically cutting emissions from U.S. power plants.

As he unveiled the final version of the plan today, President Barack Obama warned that if nothing is done about climate change, it will threaten future generations. He said the carbon dioxide limits are the biggest step the country has ever taken against global warming. Power plants account for about a third of all U.S. emissions of the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming. 

The final version of Obama's plan imposes stricter carbon dioxide limits on states than had been expected. It requires a 32 percent cut by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

As they prepare to sue the government, states and energy companies asked the Environmental Protection Agency to put the rules on hold -- a suggestion the White House is rejecting. Opponents instead plan to ask the courts to issue a stay.

In a statement Monday, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear called the new regulations disastrous for the commonwealth. "I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by the huge changes the EPA made from the proposed rule. What is being proposed for Kentucky is disastrous – disastrous for our declining coal economy and equally disastrous for our very important manufacturing economy." Beshear said.

Kentucky Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jack Conway has vowed to fight the rules. "I sued to stop this rule when it was first proposed. Now that it has come out in its final form, I will continue to fight this Kentucky job-killing rule." Conway said.

U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield said the regulations will hurt Kentucky's economy. "This rule is nothing more than a backdoor cap and trade policy executed through an unprecedented power grab by the EPA under the Clean Air Act. The finalization of these regulations will shutter more power plants across the nation, double down against affordable energy and the reliability of our grid, and deal a major blow to jobs and the economy." Whitfield said.

Officials in several states have said they simply won't comply with the new rules.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

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