WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) welcomed today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision clearing the way for a clean-air regulation to move forward to protect New Hampshire and other downwind states from pollutants emitted by out-of-state power plants. Ayotte has fought efforts in the Senate aimed at rolling back the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which encourages the use of the best technology available so downwind states such as New Hampshire will be able to achieve national clean air standards.
“Air pollution doesn’t stop at state borders, and New Hampshire shouldn’t be the tailpipe for pollutants from out-of-state power plants. Without this rule in place, New Hampshire would be unable to achieve national clean air standards because of air pollution that is outside of the state’s regulatory control,” said Senator Ayotte. “It’s a matter of common sense to ensure that one state’s emissions aren’t unduly harming another state’s air quality, and I’m pleased that the rule will move forward.”
Senator Ayotte voted in 2011 against Senate Joint Resolution 27 – a Resolution of Disapproval that sought to prevent the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule from being implemented. The resolution failed by a vote of 41 to 56.