A coalition of 21 states, several major cities, and Pennsylvania's governor filed suit against the Trump administration on Thursday over the Environmental Protection Agency's repeal of rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants fired by coal and natural gas.
The lawsuit, led by New York, challenges what the plaintiffs describe as the elimination of one of the country's most significant climate protections. The Democratic-led group also includes the District of Columbia, New York City, Chicago, and the city and county of Denver, according to the filing.
The coalition argues that gutting the power plant rule will set the United States back decades in its efforts to curb planet-warming pollution and will worsen the climate crisis. The legal action marks a direct confrontation between state and local governments and the federal agency now tasked with regulating emissions under a sharply different policy direction.
At issue is the EPA's repeal of limits on greenhouse gases from power plants that burn coal and natural gas. Those rules had been a central pillar of federal climate policy, targeting a sector that has long ranked among the largest sources of carbon emissions in the country. The repeal effectively removes a key regulatory tool for reducing emissions from electricity generation.
The plaintiffs contend that the rollback is unlawful and that it ignores the EPA's responsibility to address pollution that drives global warming. By suing, the states and cities are seeking to block the repeal and restore the emissions limits, though the case is expected to move through the federal courts over an extended period.
New York is leading the challenge, joined by a broad group of states and municipalities that together represent a significant share of the US population and economy. The inclusion of Pennsylvania's governor alongside the District of Columbia and major cities such as New York, Chicago, and Denver underscores the breadth of the opposition to the repeal.
The coalition's central claim is that the EPA's action will have lasting consequences for the climate. In their view, removing the power plant rules undermines years of regulatory work and makes it harder for the country to meet its emissions reduction goals. They warn that the decision will accelerate the effects of climate change at a time when scientists say rapid cuts to greenhouse gases are needed.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal battles over environmental regulation, as states and cities increasingly turn to the courts to contest federal rollbacks. Such cases often hinge on whether an agency followed proper procedures and justified its change in policy, and they can take years to resolve.
For now, the repeal stands, but the litigation signals that the fight over how the US regulates emissions from its power sector is far from settled. The outcome could shape the pace of the country's transition away from coal and natural gas and determine how much authority the federal government retains to limit greenhouse gases.
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