U.S. Court of Appeals Rules Against Coal Industry Challenge to Historic Clean Power Plan

Today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected coal industry challenges to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan, ruling coal interests had prematurely challenged the Obama Administration's historic effort to curb carbon pollution to combat climate disruption.

The Sierra Club was a party to these cases, joining an array of others ranging from NYU Law Dean Emeritus Richard Revesz to Calpine, one of the nation's largest utilities, in supporting the Clean Power Plan.

In response, Joanne Spalding, Chief Climate Counsel at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:

"Today the U.S. Court of Appeals roundly rejected the coal industry's latest desperate attempt to block clean energy and climate action.

"Unfortunately, we will likely see more baseless lawsuits like this, but progress towards a clean energy economy, cleaner air and water, and healthier communities is inevitable.

"The Clean Power Plan is a major step toward modernizing and cleaning up our energy sector, and we applaud the Court's decision, which will keep the country on track to realizing a robust clean energy economy."