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Arizona Joins Lawsuit Challenging EPA’s Clean Power Plan

The Arizona Republic

The State of Arizona has joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the federal Clean Power Plan. It’s among two dozen states fighting the new regulations that limit greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s power plants. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports. 

The suit was filed by Attorney General Mark Brnovich and the Arizona Corporation Commission. It claims the EPA doesn’t have the legal authority to enforce the new rule. They believe the Clean Power Plan would restructure electricity production and consumption resulting in less reliable and more expensive power. They predict it could cost U.S. consumers $25 billion a year.

The new regulations require states to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants by 32 percent based on 2005 levels over the next 15 years.

President Obama says the plan will help combat climate change and protect public health by reducing air pollution. He also says it’ll encourage the development of renewable energy sources and save consumers more than $150 billion between 2020 and 2030.

Ryan Heinsius joined KNAU's newsroom as an executive producer in 2013 and became news director and managing editor in 2024. As a reporter, he has covered a broad range of stories from local, state and tribal politics to education, economy, energy and public lands issues, and frequently interviews internationally known and regional musicians. Ryan is an Edward R. Murrow Award winner and a Public Media Journalists Association Award winner, and a frequent contributor to NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and national newscast.
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