Appeals Court Denies Petitions Filed by Oklahoma Gas and Electric

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals today denied petitions filed by Oklahoma Gas and Electric and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt requesting a rehearing before the full 10-judge panel to determine if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acted appropriately in rejecting the state of Oklahoma's plan to address visibility at national parks and wildlife areas.  In July, a split, three-member panel ruled 2-1 that the EPA lawfully exercised its authority to impose a federally mandated plan on Oklahoma.  "We're very disappointed for our customers," said OG&E spokesman Paul Renfrow.  "While we continue to weigh our legal options, including an appeal to the Supreme Court, the 10th Circuit's decision makes it increasingly likely that our customers will be paying higher rates on their electric bills because of the sizeable investment needed to meet the regional haze requirements mandated by the EPA's plan." Renfrow added that while the company has been challenging the EPA's federal implementation plan, it also has been studying plans to install emission control technology, or scrubbers, on its coal-fired power plants due to the time allowed for compliance in the EPA plan. In the past, the Governor's office, state