In early November, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper asked the state Supreme Court for guidance concerning Attorney General Cynthia Coffman’s authority to sue the federal government without the governor’s consent. The conflict arose from Coffman’s recent decision to join a federal lawsuit challenging the Clean Power Plan, the first federal clean air rule limiting carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants.
The Supreme Court recently ruled that the governor has options in challenging Coffman’s efforts to stop the Clean Power Plan. I hope Hickenlooper pursues his case in district court, as suggested by the state Supreme Court, and that he ultimately succeeds in his lawsuit.
Legal experts from around the country have recognized the Clean Power Plan is on strong legal footing. Nonetheless, Coffman has decided to spend taxpayer dollars fighting this common-sense measure. When Coffman announced her office’s intent to join the Clean Power Plan challenge, she explained that she felt compelled to file the suit, in large part, because she believes the Clean Power Plan is not “good environmental policy.” Like Gov. Hickenlooper, I question whether the attorney general is the state official best situated to determine whether federal environmental policy is “good.”
More importantly, though, Coffman is simply incorrect. The Clean Power Plan is good environmental policy, and it will be good for Colorado. The plan provides unprecedented flexibility to states, allowing Colorado to chart its own path to reduce pollution. And Colorado is well-positioned to comply with the rule, due to the state’s early leadership in reducing carbon pollution through innovative policies like our voter-approved Renewable Energy Standard and the 2010 Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act.
In fact, the effectiveness of many of the strategies that can be used to reduce carbon pollution to comply with the Clean Power Plan, such as shifting electricity generation from coal to natural gas and increasing our use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, has been demonstrated in Colorado. When fully implemented, the Clean Power Plan will reduce carbon pollution in Colorado by approximately 30 percent, which is good for public health, the state’s economy, and our air quality.
The Clean Power Plan also will spur development of clean energy resources like solar and wind in our state. Time and again, Coloradans have demonstrated our enthusiasm for clean, renewable energy production and the many jobs this growing industry creates. In addition, the Clean Power Plan will encourage energy efficiency, which can reduce pollution and electricity bills at the same time. While the attorney general claims to be speaking on behalf of Coloradans as “the people’s lawyer,” her challenge to the Clean Power Plan shows she is out of step with the majority of Coloradans who want clean air and clean energy.
Unfortunately, Coffman’s lawsuit creates a substantial conflict within Colorado’s executive branch and distracts state leaders from the important work of reducing harmful pollution. I hope Gov. Hickenlooper continues to lead in his efforts to protect public health, clean our air and strengthen our economy.
Jon Goldin-Dubois is president of Western Resource Advocates, a leading conservation group.
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