Judge Takes North Dakota Suit Under Advisement

A United State District judge has listened to arguments from both sides in the suit filed by the State of North Dakota against the State of Minnesota over the latter's 2007 Next Generation Energy Act, which prohibits utilities in Minnesota from importing coal-generated electricity from new plants or from building coal plants to serve customers within the state. In its suit, North Dakota argues that is an attempt to regulate interstate commerce in violation of  the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution and discriminates against North Dakota’s utilities and the state's coal industry. By taking the case under advisement, the judge could strike down the law, throw out the lawsuit or let the case proceed to trial. No date for the announcement of the decision has been provided. Read more