U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Obama Plan To Raise Power Bills | Eastern North Carolina Now

 Raleigh, N.C.     The U.S. Supreme Court today put on hold the Obama administration's federal power plan that would increase North Carolina power bills by an estimated 22 percent and threaten economic growth. Today's ruling sends a strong signal that the petitioning states, which include North Carolina, will succeed in court. The order suspends the federal government's ability to impose the plan until legal challenges have been resolved.

 "We are pleased the Supreme Court recognizes that the federal power plan will dramatically increase North Carolina's electricity rates with little, if any, environmental benefit," Governor Pat McCrory said. "We will continue to fight the Obama administration's illegal attempts to take over North Carolina's power system."

 The McCrory administration joined a coalition of 28 other states and state agencies in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to put an immediate halt to the Obama administration's federal power plan. North Carolina's Attorney General Roy Cooper chose not to join the suit on behalf of North Carolina's citizens.

 Governor McCrory contends the unlawful federal plan would radically restructure the way electricity is produced and consumed throughout the country, drastically increase energy costs and threaten job creation.

 This effort is the second time in the past six months Governor McCrory's administration has fought federal overreach in federal court and won a stay. In October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit put on hold a federal rule that would harm farmers and economic development by greatly expanding jurisdiction over waters never previously regulated by the federal government.

• Contact:
•  Crystal Feldman
•  govpress@nc.gov