DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some states aren’t waiting for President Barack Obama to announce tougher air quality standards for coal-fired power plants. They’re acting already to potentially soften the effect of those standards.
Several states have passed legislation directing their own environmental agencies to consider the costs of compliance while coming up with carbon dioxide emission policies for individual power plants.
The push against the new federal standards has been strongest in some states that have big coal mines or rely heavily on coal-fired power plants. Lawmakers cite concerns that new federal regulations could drive up the cost of electricity for residents and businesses.
The proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules to be announced Monday would be the first to apply to carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.