CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey led a bipartisan coalition of 22 states, along with unions and trade associations, fighting for coal miners in asking a federal appeals court to support the Trump administration’s push for sensible regulation that protects the economy.
“My work defending coal miners is all about protecting our way of life and miners’ ability to feed their families,” Morrisey said. “We are proud to have participated in these arguments and believe that unlawful, overreaching regulations must be done away with for coal to thrive.
"We commend the Trump administration for offering a sensible plan that entrusts more power to states to control energy production and emissions, while also protecting coal miners and countless other West Virginians who depend on their success.”
The Attorney General’s office, in oral arguments October 8 before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, stood with efforts to repeal the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and argued the Trump administration appropriately replaced it with the Affordable Clean Energy rule.
Morrisey contends that the Affordable Clean Energy rule stops the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from reaching into areas beyond its control such as energy production. He says that is a far cry from the overbroad powers the agency would have had under the Obama-era Power Plan.
The coalition believes the Affordable Clean Energy rule will respect the role of states in regulating energy and air quality. It says the rule embraces Congress’ intent for cooperation between the state and federal governments, correcting the Obama-era one-size-fits-all model that Morrisey says would have devastated coal communities across the state and nation.
Morrisey challenged the Obama-era Clean Power Plan on the day it was published, blocked its enforcement with a victory at the U.S. Supreme Court and has continued to lead a broad coalition pushing for its repeal. West Virginia’s victory at the Supreme Court stopped the Obama-era regulation and provided time for a new administration to correct what he calls the attempted overreach of its predecessor.