Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced Texas intends to challenge the Obama Administration’s so-called Clean Power Plan Rule (“Carbon Rule”) being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and set to be finalized this summer.  

“The Obama Administration’s Carbon Rule would result in higher electricity costs and less reliability for Texans, all while doing little to nothing to affect the environment,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton. “Texas has proven we can improve air quality without damaging our economy or Texans’ pocketbooks. I will fight this ill-conceived effort that threatens the livelihood and quality of life of all Texans.”

Texas’ required reductions would be vastly out of proportion to other states. While Texas produces 11 percent of the electricity in the United States, under the proposed rules, Texas would be required to contribute 18 percent of the overall national reduction. In order to meet that level, Texas would have to slash carbon emissions by 38 percent.

President Barack Obama announced his initiative to reduce carbon emissions for new and existing power plants on June 25, 2013. On June 18, 2014, the EPA published its proposed rule, under the Federal Clean Air Act, establishing state-specific rate-based “goals” for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from existing electric utility generating units, as well as guidelines for state plans to achieve the state-specific goals.