Kentucky regulatorsare seeking an extension for the state to comply with upcoming federal carbon dioxide regulations. But in order to do that, the state will have to show progress toward completing a state plan–a move that Governor Matt Bevin has been against in the past.
Bevin announced the move on Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency finalized the Clean Power Plan last year. It sets carbon dioxide reduction goals for individual states and gives state regulators two options: to craft their own plans to meet the goals or follow a federal blanket plan.
Kentucky is tasked with reducing carbon dioxide nearly 31 percent from 2012 levels by 2030. The regulations target carbon dioxide from power plants, and coal-fired plants are heavy emitters. Because Kentucky still relies heavily on coal-fired power, most Kentucky politicians have panned the new rules.
During his campaign, Republican Gov. Matt Bevin told WFPL News he wouldn’t submit a state plan to the EPA — or comply with the rules at all.
The administration of Bevin’s predecessor, Steve Beshear, had begun work on a state plan to comply, maintaining it would be preferable to having to follow the federal plan. The state has already made progress in reducing emissions; some older coal plants have shut down and have been replaced by cleaner natural gas.
In December, outgoing Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters stressed the importance of continuing work on that plan.
“I will continue to advocate that Kentucky should figure out how it’s going to submit a plan so that we do not have a federal plan imposed on us,” Peters said in a WFPL interview. “Is it going to be painful? Yes, it can be painful. Is it possible? Yes, with a lot of work it’s possible. If we’re going to litigate, that’s fine, there may be reasons to litigate. But there’s also no reason we should not move forward with preparing a plan.”
The deadline for a state plan is September, though the EPA has said it will grant extensions. But in order to get an extension, a state has to show it’s making an effort to create a plan. The Bevin Administration hasn’t made any statements as to whether Kentucky will in fact submit a state plan, but seeking an extension will require work towards one.
In the meantime, Kentucky is fighting the Clean Power Plan in other ways. Former Attorney General Jack Conway joined a lawsuit with other states challenging the rule’s legality. And last month, current Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavelyfiled a formal petition with the EPArequesting they reopen the public comment period on the plan.