Indiana was on a list of 10 governors pushing back against plans proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA is calling for a reduction is carbon emissions from the current 75 parts per billion to between 65 and 70 parts per billion. As things stand, 91 of Indiana’s 92 counties meet federal ozone clean air standards.
The lone county that is not meeting the ozone standards is required to develop a plan to help them meet the parts per billion limitations.
Governor Mike Pence signed the letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. He says he believes that stricter regulations would be harmful to economic growth.
In the letter, the governors say the ozone limits create a “zero-sum” game in economic growth. That means they believe any new economic growth would have to be offset with lower emissions elsewhere.
The Indiana Department of Environment management has also submitted a letter to the EPA opposing the changes.
Pence says the proposed changes come at the worst possible time.
