RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov. Terry McAuliffe is telling state agencies to come up with specific ways Virginia can act to decrease carbon emissions from the state's power plants.
The governor signed an executive order Tuesday, saying Virginia's coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to rising sea levels.
Republican lawmakers and McAuliffe have been at odds over who should have the authority to implement the state's portion of President Barack Obama's proposed carbon emission rules.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed earlier this year to halt enforcement of Obama's Clean Power Plan until after legal challenges are resolved. State Republicans put language in the state budget prohibiting any state spending toward implementing the Clean Power Plan until the Supreme Court's stay is lifted.
