SCOTUS Tosses OK Appeal On EPA Rule

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Oklahoma appeal on EPA rule
by Chris Casteel, NewsOK.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday let stand a decision that could mean costly changes at two Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. power plants to increase visibility at federal parks.

Without comment, justices declined to review a case in which OG&E and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt unsuccessfully challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s plan for reducing regional haze. North Dakota’s appeal of a regional haze ruling was also rejected Tuesday by the high court.

OG&E warned last year that the EPA’s plan could require an investment of more than $1 billion to reduce emissions at coal units in Red Rock and Muskogee. OG&E spokesman Paul Renfrow said Tuesday that the utility would announce soon how it will comply with the EPA mandates.

“We are disappointed on behalf of our customers,” Renfrow said.

“We still believe that the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan would have enabled us to meet the Regional Haze requirements at a much lower cost. However, we accept the court’s ruling and now turn our attention to meeting the 55-month compliance deadline.”

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