washington big victory obama administration u.s. federal court thursday reject bid 27 state block clean power plan centerpiece strategy combat climate change reduce carbon emissions power plant three-judge panel u.s. court appeal district columbia circuit issue brief order deny application seek stay rule litigation continue state lead west virginia several major business group october launch legal challenge seek block obama administration proposal curb carbon dioxide emissions power plant dozen state national league cities represent 19,000 u.s. cities file court paper back environmental protection agency rule rule aim low carbon emissions country power plant 2030 32 percent 2005 level main tool unite state meet emissions reduction target pledge u.n. climate talk paris last month president barack obama execute climate change strategy would legacy-defining accomplishment confident plan reduce carbon pollution deliver good air quality improve public health job across country white house say statement thursday court action mean regulation remain place final word legal fight appeal court still hear oral arguments june decide whether regulation lawful decision court deny stay good sign epa argue merit case summer say david doniger climate clean air program natural resources defense council time pretty good hand overplay yet tell reuters duke merit case now west virginia attorney general patrick morrisey lead multi-state challenge say confident challenge succeed court decide case merit say west virginia state consider ask supreme court take second look whether freeze regulation many state even sue epa clean power plan start work plan comply regulation plan due epa approval september jonathan adler professor case western reserve university school law say state likely fall line try comply rule stay deny would significant setback government challengers request grant add u.s. appeal court decline block obama carbon emissions plan