OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA climate regs head to court

ON TAP TUESDAY: The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Tuesday on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would cut power plant emissions that travel across state lines.

The cross-state air pollution regulation, or the “good neighbor” policy, was struck down last year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Environmental groups and the EPA will get a chance to make their case for the rule before the Supreme Court, which extended oral arguments to 90 minutes.

{mosads}The traditional amount of time allotted is 60 minutes. The extension is a sign that the justices might be particularly interested in the case.

It’s a big day in court for the EPA, as the D.C. Circuit will hear another case on an EPA rule that limits the amount of mercury, arsenic and other substances that can be released into the air from power plants.

Green groups are optimistic the D.C. Circuit will uphold the mercury emissions rule based on previous rulings.

“The agency has a strong track record over past few years in the D.C. Circuit,” said Vickie Patton of the Environmental Defense Counsel. 

“D.C. Circuit unambiguously affirmed the interpretation of the Clean Air Act for carbon standards (in 2012), reasoning that greenhouse gases endanger human health.”

ON TAP TUESDAY II: The White House will host the first meeting of the administration’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness.

Jim Brainard, mayor of Carmel, Ind., is one of four Republican mayors to sit on Obama’s State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness. He will attend Tuesday’s meeting.

Brainard told The Hill he expects to talk about improving coordination between cities and the federal government on climate change mitigation.

“I think that buildings are one of our biggest issues,” Brainard said when it comes to climate change resilience. “Mayors would like to see the federal government help provide grants to retrofit buildings in school districts across the country.”

Rest of Tuesday’s agenda…

Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D) will discuss the “renaissance” of the country’s oil-and-gas energy industry at a National Press Club luncheon.

Later that day, the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Canada Institute will hold a discussion on a new report that dives into energy exploration in Arctic waters and its implications.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Check out the stories that ran on E2-Wire on Monday…

– Green groups plead case against Keystone at State Department
– EPA sued over bees
– White House deputy on environmental council to step down
– EPA chief visiting China amid record air pollution
– As clock ticks on Keystone XL, Canada OKs oil-sands expansion

Please send tips and comments to Laura Barron-Lopez, laurab@digital-staging.thehill.com.