Collaborative efforts restore CAIR

In case you missed it over the holidays, the D.C. Circuit Court reinstated the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), effective January 1. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the same federal court that reinstated CAIR vacated the rule last July, angering officials, citizens and environmental groups due to air quality concerns.

The State of Pennsylvania was one of the first states to reinstate the rule, which is responsible for reducing nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, while helping electric utilities meet overall emissions limits.

From the Post-Gazette, with my emphasis:

According to the EPA, in 2010 CAIR will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions across the region by 44.6 percent or 1.2 million tons, and sulfur dioxide emissions by 71 percent or 3.6 million tons. Cutting those pollutants will cost utilities about $4 billion a year and eventually cost electric consumers about $1 more a month on their electric bills but save $85 billion annually in health care costs.

We supported CAIR and are glad to see that the federal court has reinstated the rule. Moreover, this ruling shows that Americans can continue to enjoy the benefits of affordable, reliable power and a clean environment.