By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico Supreme Court has cleared the way for a state regulatory panel to resume consideration of an environmental group's petition to establish a cap on greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
The justices reached their decision Monday in Santa Fe after hearing nearly two hours of arguments from lawyers for the group New Energy Economy, the state Environmental Improvement Board and critics of the emissions proposal.
The justices vacated a lower court ruling that effectively halted the regulatory panel's process for considering the emissions proposal and ordered the case sent back to the panel so it could continue gathering expert testimony and public comments.
Chief Justice Charles Daniels says the case raised issues of separation of powers, and the judicial branch should exercise its power sparingly without interfering in administrative processes.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.