Oklahoma’s Energy Future Debated In Washington DC

A major court hearing will affect your health or your wallet, depending on who you ask.

Oklahoma is one of several states challenging President Barack Obama's plan that would force coal plants to reduce emissions.

State Attorney General Scott Pruitt is among those who argued the plan would drive up electricity costs. Some studies say our electric bills could more than double. Those on the other side of the argument say the alternative is much worse.

Oklahomans get about 40 percent of electricity from coal. The state has six coal-powered plants, but Obama's Clean Power Plan would mandate states reduce coal emissions by a third by 2030.

“Right now, power plants are the number one producer of greenhouse gas emissions, which are the number one contributor to the issue of climate change,” said Johnson Bridgwater of the Sierra Club.

But Oklahoma and more than two dozen other states say Obama is overstepping his authority with the mandate they argue would cost jobs and drastically drive up energy prices as states shift from using fossil fuels to renewable energy.

“In Oklahoma we generate electricity in natural gas, oil, renewable energy and that diversity of fuel options helps keep prices low and helps keep stability in the market,” Pruitt said on Tuesday.

“What is more important is we slow or stop climate change,” Bridgwater said. “If we don’t do everything in our power we are going to see drastic effects get worse and worse and weather and agriculture being a big part of Oklahoma that’s our number one concern.”

The one thing both sides do agree on: Oklahoma and the country's energy future may come down to the court's decision.

“It’s been a very intense day and important day for Oklahoma and across the country,” said Pruitt.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already stepped in to delay implementation of the rules until all the legal challenges are resolved.

This case may end up at the U.S. Supreme Court but with only eight justices on the bench right now, a 4-4 decision would mean the U.S. Circuit Court’s decision would stand.