Indiana Will Not Comply With Obama’s Climate Change Plan

Indiana’s Governor Pence (R) has announced that his state will not obey the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. Pence argued that the proposed rule would make electricity more expensive for the people of Indiana and slow economic growth. Governor Pence also added that the rule would make the state’s electric service less reliable.

Pence’s words have been highly praised by coal companies operating in the state. Indiana’s coal industry is said to employ over 26,000 workers. The Governor said in his letter addressed to President Obama that his state would do everything it could to block the rule from being implemented.

“If your administration proceeds to finalize the Clean Power Plan, and the final rule has not demonstrably and significantly improved from the proposed rule, Indiana will not comply. Our state will also reserve the right to use any legal means available to block the rule from being implemented.”

Pence went on to say in his letter that the proposed rule will put environmental concerns before everything else.

“Energy policy should promote the safe, environmentally responsible stewardship of our natural resources with the goal of reliable, affordable energy. Your approach to energy policy places environmental concerns above all others.”

As the Washington Times notes, the final version of the proposed rule is set to be released in August. The EPA says that the rule would dramatically reduce the amount of carbon emissions the United States creates.

Melissa Harrison, a spokeswoman for the EPA, issued a statement that effectively sought to refute everything Governor Pence said in his letter. Harrison said that the rule will provide affordable, reliable electric service while creating jobs and innovation. The effects of the rule Harrison listed were in direct opposition to what Indiana’s governor had said the rule would cause to happen in the state.

“In the EPA’s nearly 45-year history, emissions from power plant pollution have decreased dramatically, improving public health protection for all Americans, while the economy has grown. EPA’s plan will not change that.”

Senator Mitch McConnell, majority leader from Kentucky, thanked Governor Pence for standing up to the EPA. McConnell went on to say that he believes other governors will join the “list of those who disagree with the EPA.”

Governor Mary Fallin (R) of Oklahoma in April issued an executive order that will keep her state from developing a plan to reduce carbon emissions. As reported by the AP, 14 states had previously brought a lawsuit against the EPA for the proposed rule. An appeals court recently threw the case out, saying the lawsuit was premature.

[Photo by Luke Sharrett / Getty Images]