U.S. Supreme Court's power plant ruling expected to hinder future climate action

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The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling on June 30 has limited the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to regulate climate pollution from existing power plants, which may hinder the Biden administration's future climate and energy initiatives. In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority invoked the 'major questions' doctrine, asserting that the EPA exceeded its authority under the Clean Air Act's Section 111(d) with the Obama-era Clean Power Plan. The ruling emphasizes that agencies must have clear congressional authorization to implement regulations of significant economic or political impact.

Legal experts predict that this decision will lead to increased scrutiny of future EPA regulations and could complicate efforts to address climate pollution. While some argue that the ruling does not entirely prohibit innovative regulatory approaches, it raises concerns about the potential for judicial challenges to new and significant agency actions. Despite these challenges, some lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, remain optimistic about the EPA's ability to pursue climate goals, asserting that there are still effective tools available to tackle the climate crisis.