There is no word yet on how the reinstatement would affect the region's power plant industry.
View full sizeThe 53-year-old Portland Generating Station in Upper Mount Bethel Township will shut down two coal-fired units in June 2014, ARG Energy says. The Supreme Court is taking a reinstatement of federally regulated power plant pollution reduction under consideration, according to the Associated Press.
According to the report, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals voted in a 2-1 decision that declared that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded authority “by imposing ‘massive emissions reduction requirements’ on plants in upwind states.” However, the court said today that it will review the overturning of the EPA’s pollution standard.
According to Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel, the potential of reinstating the EPA’s additional ruling on neighboring-state air pollution is good news for the area.
“It’s an important step forward for clean air and clean energy,” he said. “Far too long have the power plants been able to pollute the area’s air. One third of New Jersey’s pollution comes from out-of-state pollution.”
Spokeswoman Colleen Connelly, of the Pennsylvania’s northeast region office of the Department of Environmental Protection, said that she did not yet have a chance to look over the announcement, but agreed that it may be pivotal.
“It certainly might change things, and could cause us to look in a different direction,” she said.
A representative from NRG Energy -- the managing company of the Portland, Pennsylvania power plant that will be closing in June 2014 due to an environmental lawsuit -- was not available for comment at the time of the announcement.