The US Supreme Court has been petitioned by the state of Ohio, significant oil corporations, and business groups to challenge California's authority to establish more stringent greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles. This legal move aims to overturn California’s unique power to impose emission limits exceeding federal standards, granted under the Clean Air Act by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The plaintiffs, including Valero’s Diamond Alternative Energy, argue that the EPA should not grant such waivers, claiming it disrupts uniform national standards. The petition emphasizes the need for EPA to continue to grant California these waivers, which have been pivotal in the state's aggressive climate change policies.
Despite its severe air quality issues, California has been the sole state authorized to request EPA waivers since the late 1960s. As a result, the state has implemented stringent vehicle emission standards, which have significantly reduced its climate-warming emissions. The waiver in question was initially granted in 2013, revoked in 2019, and reinstated in 2021. The outcome of this legal battle could redefine the balance of power between state and federal environmental policies. The Supreme Court’s decision holds the potential for far-reaching implications for both California and the nation's environmental future.
