Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard

Utah won’t have to implement federal air quality standards anytime soon.

Last week, the Supreme Court barred the enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency’s “good neighbor” rule, also known as the ozone transport rule, across the U.S. The regulation aims to reduce the spread of ozone-forming emissions across state lines and associated health risks.

The regulation isn’t dead yet, but the court’s ruling puts its implementation years behind schedule.

“The EPA’s proposed Ozone Transport Rule is yet another example of federal overreach,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement. “This is one that would have dire consequences for energy security and reliability in Utah.”

Learn more here: https://t.co/sHlE6MgVPa pic.twitter.com/GMco2VCYUF

The EPA says that reducing nitrogen oxide emissions under the good neighbor rule would prevent premature deaths, hospital visits, asthma cases and school absence days.

The health and environmental benefits, the agency claims, would total nearly $10 billion — and only increase the cost of generating electricity by 1%.

In 2023, the EPA concluded that ozone-forming nitrogen oxide emissions from Utah power plants were blown downwind to Colorado. Utah developed a plan to implement the rule, but the EPA rejected it, arguing it was insufficient.

Utah challenged the EPA’s decision in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. That court sided with Utah, ruling that the state did not have to enforce the “good neighbor” rule until their litigation in the court was resolved.

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Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard

Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard

Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard

Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard

Utah leaders celebrate as Supreme Court blocks federal air quality standard