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(KSL News) -- The state of Utah has jumped into the fray on what many scientists and conservationists consider the most important environmental case ever to go before the US Supreme Court.
The issue is global warming. The question is, does the Environmental Protection Agency have the authority to regulate the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to address global climate change?
The Bush Adminstration says no, but 12 states, including California, New York and Massachusetts, say yes and sued the administration.
Today nine other states, along with Utah, filed a brief siding with the administration, along with car manufacturers and utilities.
CO2 is released by the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and cars and a consensus of scientists call it the number one greenhouse gas fueling global warming. Asst. Attorney General Fred Nelson says "Utah's position is that CO2 should be regulated by national decisions rather than a state program mandated by EPA."
The court is expected to hear the case in the coming months.
