JUNEAU (AP) — State political leaders welcomed the announcement Monday that Alaska was not included in a new federal rule aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it didn't have the information needed to determine the best system of emission reduction in Alaska, which has isolated infrastructures like Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Guam.

The federal agency said it would determine how best to address emission standards for existing fossil fuel-fired power plants in those states and territories at an unspecified later date.

“Because we...