The United States Supreme Court on Feb. 9, 2016, ruled against the Obama administration in a 5-4 decision, temporarily blocking its rules designed to lower carbon emissions and create green jobs in order to combat climate change while litigation is pending.

Arizona is part of a 26-state coalition suing to halt implementation of the Clean Power Plan. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is calling the U.S. Supreme Court's decision a huge victory for the state.
In a statement, Brnovich says the Clean Power Plan is regulation without representation.

The stay will remain in effect until a federal appeals court in Washington rules on the plan, which could be later this year.

Under the stay, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) won't be able to enforce a Sept. 6, 2016, deadline for Arizona and other states to either submit emission reduction plans or request a two-year extension.

Press Secretary Josh Earnest issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Clean Power Plan, “We disagree with the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Clean Power Plan while litigation proceeds. The Clean Power Plan is based on a strong legal and technical foundation, gives States the time and flexibility they need to develop tailored, cost-effective plans to reduce their emissions, and will deliver better air quality, improved public health, clean energy investment and jobs across the country, and major progress in our efforts to confront the risks posed by climate change. We remain confident that we will prevail on the merits. Even while the litigation proceeds, EPA has indicated it will work with states that choose to continue plan development and will prepare the tools those states will need. At the same time, the administration will continue to take aggressive steps to make forward progress to reduce carbon emissions.”