Chevron ruling reshapes energy regulations and federal authority
The Supreme Court's decision to limit federal agency power will pose challenges for the Biden administration's climate policies and regulatory efforts.
Niina H. Farah and Lesley Clark report for E&E News.
In short:
- The Supreme Court's decision reduces the authority of federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws, affecting regulations on emissions and electric vehicles.
- Legal experts anticipate increased litigation challenging existing and new regulations, particularly those related to climate change.
- Key Biden-era climate initiatives, such as emission reductions from power plants and electric vehicle regulations, face new legal hurdles.
Key quote:
“Where agencies appear to be carrying out sweeping and adventurous regulatory efforts to address our most pressing issues, that sort of effort is going to be immediately called into question.”
— Joel Eisen, University of Richmond law professor.
Why this matters:
This ruling could stymie efforts to mitigate climate change by increasing legal barriers to environmental regulation, potentially slowing down policies aimed at reducing climate-warming pollution. Read more: “Cancer Alley” residents exposed to more than the lifetime exposure limit for cancer-causing compound.
