WASHINGTON — In a new case about climate change, the Supreme Court will hear an appeal from electric utilities that are trying to short-circuit an effort by states to force cuts in power-plant emissions.
The court agreed Monday to consider ending a federal lawsuit by eight states, New York City and others that accuses the power companies of being among the world’s largest emitters of carbon dioxide. The suit asks a federal judge to order reductions in the emissions in plants in 20 states.
A federal judge threw out the case, but the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said it could continue.
The lawsuit says carbon dioxide is one of the chief causes of global warming. The greenhouse gas is produced when coal, gasoline and other fossil fuels burn. Similar lawsuits are pending in California and North Carolina.
The American Electric Power Co. and other utilities say only the Environmental Protection Agency can set emissions standards. The Associated Press
