D.C. Circuit Court Ruling to Block Clean Air Standards a Disappointment for Small Business

The U.S. federal appeals court ruling today blocking the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is a major letdown for hardworking small business owners across the nation who support this standard. According to Small Business Majority's scientific opinion polling, 73 percent of entrepreneurs favor the rule, designed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce smog and soot crossing state lines.

Forcing the EPA to revise the standard, also known as the Good Neighbor Rule, threatens the economic benefits it could produce for small business and the economy, while also limiting the authority of the agency responsible for implementing many rules small business owners support.

In fact, a strong majority of entrepreneurs, 71 percent, agree government has a role in driving our country toward a cleaner, more competitive economy. Considering this broad support for government investment in clean energy, it's no wonder the Good Neighbor Rule is popular, despite 52 percent of entrepreneurs saying it would impact their business directly.

Small business owners are our nation's chief job creators, and today, their needs were ignored. They support important updates the EPA is making to smog and soot standards. The appeals court choosing to block those standards is a disappointment that does nothing to help small business owners who could reap financial benefits a competitive clean energy economy offers.