Governor Rick Snyder declined to put his name on the latest legal action against the Environmental Protection Agency by the state attorney general’s office.
Snyder says Wednesday he believes the suit is not necessary, as state utilities are already largely moving toward compliance.
"So we thought the best answer was, we’re already heading in the direction of where that outcome would happen," he says. "So there wasn’t a reason to participate in that lawsuit."
Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a new challenge in a legal battle against EPA pollution regulations in federal court last Friday.
It was co-signed by more than a dozen other state attorneys general.
Snyder’s removal means the suit is filed on behalf of the 'people of Michigan' instead of the state.