Two Takes On Repealing The Clean Power Plan

Conservatives and industry groups are applauding EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s decision this week to repeal the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. Meanwhile, environmentalists are slamming the move. We get opposing takes on what the proposed rule change means for the economies and climates of Wisconsin and the rest of the nation.

Pruitt signed the proposal on Tuesday, which would roll back regulations designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing U-S power plants. 28 attorneys general, including Wisconsin’s Brad Schimel, challenged the Clean Power Plan in court, arguing that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority by forcing utilities to set carbon emissions limits beyond their capability. The measure was put on hold by the U-S Supreme Court and was never actually implemented.

“That rule really was about picking winners and losers,” Pruitt said Monday in Kentucky.

Heritage Foundation energy expert Nick Loris said while repealing the Clean Power Plan is good news for manufacturing jobs and consumers of electricity, there’s still plenty of climate-related reforms that need to be done.

Clean Wisconsin’s science and research director Tyson Cook said the Trump administration is holding the country back from a carbon-free energy-driven economy and a global solution to the climate crisis.

How do you feel about the Trump administration’s decision to roll back the Clean Power Plan? Did the rule pick winners and losers by declaring war on coal-fired plants or was it a good measure to fight climate change? Do you generally feel like the Trump administration has the right or wrong approach to climate-related issues? Reach us at 1-800-642-1234 or ideas@wpr.org. You can also tweet us @wprmornings or post on the Ideas Network Facebook page.