Three of Wisconsin's neighboring states want to help President Barack Obama's administration defend its climate change plan in court against challenges by Gov. Scott Walker and other Republicans.

Wisconsin this week joined about-two dozen other states in filing a second lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. The federal initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal and natural gas-fired power plants, but Walker said the plan would be costly to the state.

On Wednesday, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa joined 25 states, cities and counties that filed a motion to help defend the plan. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said climate change threatens the consistent rainfall and moderate temperatures needed to grow crops.

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"So, we have an enormous stake in Iowa in dealing with this," said Miller. "The Clean Power Plan will have a real effect in reducing the gases that produce climate change."

The climate change dispute is before a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.