US Supreme Court puts Clean Power Plan on hold

At a Glance 26-02-2016

In August 2015, the Obama administration promulgated a landmark regulation known as the Clean Power Plan (CPP), to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil-fuelled power plants. Soon after the publication of the CPP in the Federal Register, state and industry petitioners contended that the administration had exceeded its authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA), violated the historic and legal authority of the states, and imposed unmanageable restructuring of the power sector. In February 2016, the US Supreme Court – the highest US court with unique authority over constitutional and federal affairs – temporarily suspended President Barack Obama's landmark carbon-emissions regulation for existing stationary sources.