Supreme Court Rules EPA Can Regulate Greenhouse Gases

Big news from Washington today: the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Court ruled that the states had the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision, and that the Clear Air Act gave the EPA authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases.

Additionally, the Court ruled that the EPA had to re-examine the EPA's position that it had discretion not to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations, but it must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.

As the Court said, the "EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change."

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