Adirondack group praises Supreme Court decision on Midwest power plants
North Country Public Radio
April 30, 2014
By, Brian Mann
An environment group in the Adirondacks is praising the Supreme Court's decision on power plant pollution.
The justices yesterday reversed a lower court decision and reinstated a set of Federal regulations known as the Cross State Air Pollution Rule. Those regulations limit emissions from coal-burning power plants in the Midwest.
Willie Janeway with the Adirondack Council said he was "thrilled" by the decision and said it will help in the fight against acid rain.
"This rule gives the lakes and forests of the Adirondack Park a real chance to recover," Janeway said in a statement.
The air pollution rule was struck down by a lower court in 2011, but the Obama administration appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Justices voted 6-to-2 to uphold the rule.
In all, 27 Midwestern states will be forced to curb emissions from their power plant smokestacks.
Joe Martens, commissioner of New York's Conservation Department, also praised the decision. He issued a statement saying that the decision will help reduce the amount of pollution hitting our region from other states.
