N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Secretary Michael Regan requested today that a court allow the department to withdraw from an ongoing legal challenge to part of the federal Clean Power Plan.
The motion to withdraw from the case was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Court of Columbia Circuit by N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein on behalf of Regan and the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.
“We are working to assess our agency and its challenges so we can better position ourselves to meet our greatest priorities going forward,” Regan said. “We feel that pursuing this potentially expensive legal challenge is not a good use of state resources, would not be in line with our agency’s mission to protect the environment, and would not serve the best interest of taxpayers.”
North Carolina, under the previous administration, joined other states in October 2015 to challenge part of the Clean Power Plan that addresses carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants.
“Investing in clean energy creates jobs, enhances our energy independence and combats climate change,” Stein said. “The Department of Environmental Quality asked me to withdraw North Carolina’s participation in this lawsuit because it frustrates these important goals. I am glad to do so.”