Vermont is one of eleven states that filed a lawsuit today against the federal Environmental Protection Agency over mercury emissions from power plants.
The suit targets plans to begin a cap-and-trade rule that would allow plants to buy pollution credits from cleaner plants rather than install controls to reduce emissions.
Mercury is consumed by humans who eat certain types of fish. It poses a severe threat to pregnant or nursing women and to young children.
The other states involved in the suit are California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.