Washington AG sues Trump administration over energy standards, pollution reduction

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is suing the Donald Trump administration, again – this time over energy-efficient standards and pollution reduction.

In April, Ferguson, along with the attorney generals of 10 other states, served notice on the Department of Energy of their intent to file suit if the department did not end its delay in publishing the new standards.

According to the complaint filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the new standards would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 26 million metric tons per year — the equivalent of shutting down at least six coal-fired power plants. The new standards could also save consumers at least $4.7 billion in energy costs by reducing electricity consumption by about 240 billion kilowatt hours— the annual electricity use of about 19 million homes — over the next three decades.

The standards cover energy that powers walk-in coolers and freezers, power supplies, portable air conditioners, commercial boilers and compressors.

“The Trump administration has no legal right to stand in the way of these important standards,” Ferguson said. “The benefits to consumers and the environment are too important to allow the Trump administration to block these standards.”

Ferguson said the administration’s inaction is a violation of the Energy Policy Conservation Act, among other laws.

The Washington attorney general sued the president in January to overturn the administration’s first travel ban order.