Enviro groups and states delay lawsuit to hear the White House climate strategy

Lawyers representing states and environmental groups were expected to launch a legal blitz against the Environmental Protection Agency this week for delaying on climate rules. But on Monday it was announced that they will delay legal action to see if the White House unveils a climate policy strategy.

We may not have to wait long. As John Upton notes at Grist, Obama recently told donors that he plans to unveil new climate change regulations as part of a larger climate strategy next month. The regulations are expected to include a rule on carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants that would make it impossible to build new coal plants unless they have carbon-capture technology.

From Reuters:

The attorney generals of New York and nine other states, along with three major green groups, had planned to sue the EPA this week because it missed a deadline in April to finalize emissions standards for new electric power plants.

Two months after notifying the agency they intended to sue, the consortium had expected to file as early as Monday, but backed off temporarily to allow the White House to disclose its climate plans.

“Due to public reports that the president will be announcing major action on climate change very soon, the Attorney General has decided to postpone a lawsuit on this matter for a short period,” said Melissa Grace, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

(h/t Grist)

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