Ten States Sue EPA Over Carbon Emissions

Ten states, two cities, and three environmental organizations have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not regulating carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. While the Clean Air Act requires EPA to regulate air pollutants, the Bush administration claims carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses do not qualify as pollutants. Led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the lawsuit was filed by California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin; New York City and Washington, D.C.; and Environmental Defense, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club.