The Supreme Court has upheld a Biden administration regulation aimed at reducing planet-warming pollution from coal-fired power plants. The ruling denies a request from Republican-led states and industry groups to block the Environmental Protection Agency's rule, which requires many coal-fired power plants to capture 90% of their carbon emissions or face closure within eight years.
The conservative majority on the court decided to leave the regulation in place for now, with Justice Clarence Thomas being the sole dissenter. Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch expressed concerns about the rule but concluded that it did not need to be blocked immediately, as compliance deadlines are set for June 2025.
The rule is a key component of President Joe Biden's plan to eliminate carbon pollution from the electricity sector by 2035 and economy-wide by 2050. The National Mining Association has vowed to continue fighting the regulation, arguing that it imposes unattainable standards on power plants.
Environmental advocates, on the other hand, welcomed the court's decision, calling the standards modest yet crucial in addressing the climate crisis. The EPA estimates that the rule could result in up to $370 billion in climate and health benefits and prevent nearly 1.4 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047.
This ruling comes amidst a series of recent decisions by the Supreme Court regarding environmental regulations. While some regulations have been upheld, others have faced setbacks, signaling a complex legal landscape for environmental policy moving forward.
Earlier on the same day, the court heard arguments in a case involving clean water standards, highlighting ongoing debates over the EPA's regulatory authority. The outcome of these legal battles will have significant implications for the future of environmental protection in the United States.
