Supreme Court to hear utilitiesÂ’ appeal


CSA Z462 Arc Flash Training – Electrical Safety Compliance Course

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 6 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$249
Coupon Price:
$199
Reserve Your Seat Today
The U.S. Supreme Court said that it would hear an appeal by four big coal-burning utilities of a ruling that a group of states and New York City can proceed with a global-warming lawsuit seeking to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of the power companies.

The justices agreed to review a ruling by a U.S. appeals court that reinstated a 2004 lawsuit by eight states, New York City and three land trusts claiming the utilities have created a public nuisance by contributing to global warming.

American Electric Power Co Inc, Southern Co, Xcel Energy Inc and Cinergy Corp, which Duke Energy Corp acquired in 2006, said in the appeal that the case involved political questions for Congress and the president, not the judiciary.

The states — California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin — and the other plaintiffs urged the top court to reject the appeal by the utilities. That would have allowed the lawsuit to go forward.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case most likely in March, with a ruling expected by the end of June. It will be the most important environmental case of the term, and the biggest since the Supreme Court's ruling in 2007 that U.S. environmental officials can regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Coal-fired power plants emit about twice as much carbon dioxide as natural gas-fired plants. Nuclear power plans emit virtually no greenhouse gases. Scientists say greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide warm the earth by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere.

A federal judge initially dismissed the lawsuit, ruling the question of whether carbon dioxide emissions should be reduced was political, not judicial. But the appeals court disagreed.

The Supreme Court, in agreeing to hear the appeal disregarded the advice of the Obama administration, which represented one of the defendant utilities in the original lawsuit, the federally owned Tennessee Valley Authority.

The administration urged the Supreme Court to set aside the appeals court ruling and send the case back to New York for further proceedings to consider recent actions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address carbon dioxide emissions.

Related News

A resilient Germany is weathering the energy crunch

German Energy Price Brakes harness price signals in a market-based policy, cutting gas consumption, preserving…
View more

India’s Kakrapur 3 achieves criticality

Kakrapar Unit 3 700MWe PHWR achieved first criticality, showcasing indigenously designed nuclear power, NPCIL operations,…
View more

Power Outage Disrupts Morning Routine for Thousands in London

London, Ontario Power Outage disrupts the electricity grid, causing a citywide blackout, stalled commuters, dark…
View more

Rolls-Royce expecting UK approval for mini nuclear reactor by mid-2024

Rolls-Royce SMR UK Approval underscores nuclear innovation as regulators review a 470 MW factory-built modular…
View more

Nuclear plants produce over half of Illinois electricity, almost faced retirement

Illinois Zero Emission Credits support nuclear plants via tradable credits tied to wholesale electricity prices,…
View more

New England's solar growth is creating tension over who pays for grid upgrades

New England Solar Interconnection Costs highlight distributed generation strains, transmission charges, distribution upgrades, and DAF…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Live Online & In-person Group Training

Advantages To Instructor-Led Training – Instructor-Led Course, Customized Training, Multiple Locations, Economical, CEU Credits, Course Discounts.

Request For Quotation

Whether you would prefer Live Online or In-Person instruction, our electrical training courses can be tailored to meet your company's specific requirements and delivered to your employees in one location or at various locations.