It's been called "devastating" and "excessive," driving at least one opponent to call government officials "a bunch of punks."
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The Clean Power Plan, finalized August 3 by the Environmental Protection Agency, does not mandate the shutdown of any particular coal plant. That hasn't stopped it from drawing ire and lawsuits from coal-heavy states such as Kentucky and West Virginia.
The graphic below explains the opposition: Overwhelmingly dependent on coal, these states will likely need a fundamental shift in their electricity mix in order to help the U.S. meet its climate goals. The new rule aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants—the nation's largest source of carbon pollution—32 percent from 2005 levels over the next 15 years. That's up from the 30 percent initially proposed in 2014.