In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) rule, which would limit the amount of mercury and other emissions from power plants. While this rule went into effect earlier this year, the state of Michigan and 20 other states challenged it at the Supreme Court, declaring that the EPA did not consider the cost impact it would have on the power industry.
Yesterday, June 29, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Michigan and the other challenging states regarding EPA’s MATS rule. The court determined that the EPA did not take into account the cost of these regulations to utilities and others in the power industry, which could be upwards of $9.6-billion per year. The ruling did leave in place the EPA’s authority to set regulations on mercury emissions from power plants; however, a cost-benefit analysis could be required before any further follow through with these active rules.
Below is Wolverine’s position on this issue:
Wolverine supports the regulation of mercury emissions from power plants.
Wolverine maintains a small percentage ownership of three coal-fired power plants. Each plant is already equipped with, and currently operates with, emission controls that are EPA mercury rule compliant.
Wolverine believes that the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the EPA mercury rule will delay, but not block, EPA’s regulation of mercury from power plants.
Wolverine was contacted by the Cadillac News and the Traverse City Record Eagle for comments on the Supreme Court ruling. Click here to read the article in the Cadillac News.
Read the Detroit News article regarding the Supreme Court ruling and Michigan’s involvement by clicking here.
