Hoosier Environmentalist Weighs In On Supreme Court Case

Hoosier environmental advocates are keeping an eye on policies and programs that affect our state’s health.  

In recent years, stricter laws have controlled efforts to make our air cleaner.  This week in Washington D.C., the United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments concerning a law that requires permits for companies that want to build or expand power plants in an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. 

Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, says so far no Indiana plants have had to comply with the 2011 enactment.

"The newest power plant that has been built, the Edwardsport Plant, was not actually subject to this latest EPA greenhouse gas rule," explains Kharbanda.

Kharbanda says the practical implications of a ruling that keeps the permit regulations in place and increases the allowed amount of emissions is that it will be easier to manage new plants.

"The benefit of having an operating permit is that it consolidates all the information about emissions limits and monitoring obligations into one document," says Kharbanda.

Some opponents of the regulations argue that the permits shouldn't apply to more common greehouse gases like carbon dioxide.

The issue concerns the power of the Environmental Protection Agency to determine appropriate levels of greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources.  Even if the high court decides strip that power, the current administration would still have ways to fight global warming.