Lawsuit originally filed in 2004 deemed redundant and a waste of taxpayer money.
3/13/11, "N.J. quits emissions lawsuit," AP, B. Shipkowski, Philadelphia Inquirer
"New Jersey has withdrawn from a lawsuit by several states that seeks to have five electric utilities cut greenhouse gases emitted
- by their power plants in 20 states.
State Attorney General Paula Dow notified the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday that New Jersey "will no longer be a party" to the case, though the decision was not disclosed publicly. The Associated Press obtained a copy of Dow's letter to William K. Suter, clerk of the Supreme Court, which was signed by Deputy Attorney General Lisa J. Morelli.
The "lawsuit that was originally filed in 2004 has been effectively mooted by the 2007 Supreme Court decision declaring that the regulation of greenhouse emissions is a federal issue," Paul Loriquet, a Dow spokesman, told the AP on Saturday.
In an e-mail, he added, "Considering the Supreme Court's ruling and the Obama administration's subsequent position that the EPA must determine an appropriate plan of action,
- it does not make sense to incur further taxpayer expense on an unnecessary lawsuit."
New Jersey's decision was criticized by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.),
- who has been involved in global-warming issues.
"Why should New Jersey be less concerned about the health and well-being of its families than Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, California, and Iowa?" he asked in a statement Saturday.
The litigation seeks to force the utilities to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 3 percent annually for 10 years. The plaintiffs say greenhouse gas is a chief cause of global warming. The gas is produced when coal, gasoline, and other fossil fuels burn.
The lawsuit initially was dismissed by a judge who determined the issue a political one not meant to be decided by the courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan overturned that ruling in 2009, finding that
- not every case with political overtones must be kept out of the courts.
The Supreme Court accepted the case for review in September.
Utilities named in the suit are American Electric Power Co. Inc., Cinergy Co., Southern Co. Inc. of Georgia, Xcel Energy Inc. of Minnesota,
- and the federal Tennessee Valley Authority."
It is suicidal and homicidal to suggest we lower our energy requirements at this moment in time. The richest people in the world have trillions invested in the CO2 endangerment fantasy, which is a different issue from air pollution. The UK monarchy, for example, is counting on wind turbine income for its financial survival. A passionate, even tearful Prince Charles can be heard around the clock begging on behalf of the planet and his portfolio. Global warming profiteers 'care' enough to demand US taxpayers pay billions more in 'global tax.' People are starving and dying as a result of this farce while organized crime rakes in billions. It is mass murder and the political class is silent. We will keep voting these people out until the last one is gone. ed.
via Tom Nelson
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