Judges: N.C. can sue TVA

A three-judge panel ruled that North Carolina can sue the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The panel in the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the TVA's motions to dismiss a lawsuit that demands the utility clean up its power plants and reduce air pollution.

North Carolina sued the TVA in 2006, claiming that thousands of North Carolina residents suffered ill health from pollution blowing across the mountains from TVA coal plants in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.

The lawsuit also argues the pollution has hurt North Carolina's environment and economy.

"Clean air is critical to our health and our economy," Attorney General Roy Cooper said in a statement. "This ruling clears the way for us to to make TVA clean up its pollution that's dirtying our air and making North Carolinians sick."

TVA disputes the claims. (N&O)