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Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s announcement that it would uphold the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

“I am disappointed to hear that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which is yet another example of the EPA targeting America’s energy sector without fully considering the job losses and increased energy costs to consumers that will result,” said Latta. “EPA regulations, such as Utility MACT, have already caused or will soon cause 41 Ohio coal units to shut down or convert. This rule will undoubtedly continue that trend, costing tens of billions of dollars and placing thousands of jobs at risk – all while threatening the reliability of our nation’s energy supply by placing our electric power grid at risk.”

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is a costly and complex regulatory regime for 28 Eastern, Midwestern and Southern states. Today’s Supreme Court decision comes after a federal court initially vacated the rule in 2012 upon finding that it went beyond the EPA’s Clean Air Act authority and could have required upwind states to reduce emissions by more than what they contribute to a downwind state’s nonattainment. 

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