Via WSAZ:

WASHINGTON (AP & WSAZ) — The Supreme Court has agreed to halt enforcement of President Barack Obama’s sweeping plan to address climate change by regulating emissions from coal-fired power plants until after legal challenges are resolved.

The surprising move on Tuesday is a blow to the administration and a victory for the coalition of 27 mostly Republican-led states and industry opponents that call the regulations “an unprecedented power grab.”

By temporarily freezing the rule the high court’s order signals that opponents have made a strong argument against the plan. A federal appeals court last month refused to put it on hold.

The plan aims to stave off the worst predicted impacts of climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions at existing power plants by about one-third by 2030.

Appellate arguments are set to begin June 2.

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the following statement:
“Last year I called on governors to hold off submitting plans mandated under the President’s regressive federal energy regulations until courts could determine whether the regulations were even legal. Today’s Supreme Court order to halt those regulations—regulations that attack the middle class and won’t even have a meaningful impact on global carbon emissions—is just the latest sign they may not be. I applaud the court for implementing this stay until a final determination can be made.”

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., issued the following statement:
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling sends a strong signal to the EPA that it must stop ignoring the damage its regulations are causing to our energy sector, our economy and our way of life in West Virginia. I have made it clear that this agency’s reckless actions must be stopped immediately. The EPA continues to overstep its legal authority and impose regulations one after another regardless of the impact on our economy and our people. I applaud the Supreme Court for recognizing that these regulations are simply unlawful. This ruling is an important step to rein in this out-of-control agency, and I am hopeful the courts will continue to stop the EPA’s Clean Power Plan in order to prevent the loss of millions of jobs, an increase in utility rates, and more damage to our economy. Our own Department of Energy has stated that coal will make up nearly thirty percent of our energy portfolio over the next few decades. Instead of working against us and imposing these self-inflicted wounds to our economy, this Administration should work with us to promote the clean energy technology of the future that we can develop right here in West Virginia.”

US Senator Shelley Moore Capito released the following statement:
“Tonight’s Supreme Court decision recognizes that Americans should not continue to bear the brunt of this administration’s costly regulations when there are serious doubts about their legality. This is a major step forward to stop the EPA’s unworkable and overreaching regulations and is consistent with legislation I introduced last year. West Virginians know the threats posed by the president’s Clean Power Plan, and many in our state are already feeling the effects of other EPA regulations with lost jobs and higher energy bills. To make sure that these EPA regulations don’t continue to hurt my state, I will continue my efforts to protect affordable, reliable energy and end this economic assault on energy-producing states.”

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued the following statement:
“Make no mistake – this is a great victory for West Virginia. We are thrilled that the Supreme Court realized the rule’s immediate impact and froze its implementation, protecting workers and saving countless dollars as our fight against its legality continues.”

W.Va. State Senate President Bill Cole’s statement:
“The United States Supreme Court decision that puts a stay on the implementation of EPA’s Clean Power Plan is a huge victory for West Virginia against the Obama Administration’s blatant federal overreach. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and his team should be commended for their bold leadership in this lawsuit, and their diligent work to defend our coal mining communities against this President’s patently illegal actions. My hope is that this will draw a line in the sand and tell Washington bureaucrats that they do not know what is best for our state and its energy industry.”

See the article here.