The Supreme Court handed down a big victory for American energy on Thursday, ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have authority to set standards on climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions for existing power plants, CNBC reports.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion:
“There is little reason to think Congress assigned such decisions” about the regulations in question to the EPA, despite the agency’s belief that “Congress implicitly tasked it, and it alone, with balancing the many vital considerations of national policy implicated in deciding how Americans will get their energy.”
“Capping carbon dioxide emissions at a level that will force a nationwide transition away from the use of coal to generate electricity may be a sensible ‘solution to the crisis of the day,’ ” Roberts wrote, “But it is not plausible that Congress gave EPA the authority to adopt on its own such a regulatory scheme.”
“A decision of such magnitude and consequence rests with Congress itself, or an agency acting pursuant to a clear delegation from that representative body,” he added.
Justice Elena Kagan wrote a dissent:
“Today, the Court strips the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the power Congress gave it to respond to ’the most pressing environmental challenge of our time, ” Kagan wrote.
“The Court appoints itself — instead of Congress or the expert agency—the decisionmaker on climate policy. I cannot think of many things more frightening,” she added. “The majority claims it is just following precedent, but that is not so. The Court has never even used the term ‘major questions doctrine’ before.”
Prominent conservative voices are already celebrating the decision, sharing their opinions on social media.
“The Obama administration tried to destroy the energy sector, and the Biden administration is trying to do the same thing. Thankfully today the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA’s powers are not unlimited,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted.
The Obama administration tried to destroy the energy sector, and the Biden administration is trying to do the same thing.
Thankfully today the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA’s powers are not unlimited.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 30, 2022
“Another big victory for the Supreme Court,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said.
Another big victory for the Supreme Court. https://t.co/pI6ZW5QWcL
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) June 30, 2022
Florida Senator Marco Rubio released an official statement, saying “Congress writes the laws, not government agencies. The Supreme Court is sending a strong signal to unelected bureaucrats throughout the federal government to stop reaching beyond their legislative mandate. It is long overdue.”
Sen. Rubio released a statement regarding #SCOTUS's decision in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, which restricts the executive branch from issuing regulations beyond the intentions of the legislative branch.
Read more 👇https://t.co/atiAC2eTem
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) June 30, 2022
This story is developing…
BREAKING: In a blow to the fight against climate change, the Supreme Court sharply limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. https://t.co/iYYuPlZZt9
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 30, 2022