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20×102mm Vulcan
Supreme Court’s next major ruling could severely limit the power of the EPA
The shock waves from the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last Friday are spreading across the country, but at least one more major opinion is still looming. And while it may not affect personal liberties as much as earlier rulings this term, it still could have a dramatic impact on people’s lives.West Virginia v. the Environmental Protection Agency has the potential to sharply curtail the power of the EPA.
The case is an unusual one for the court. Instead of looking at a rule that has already been established, this one will set a precedent for future actions, specifically those tied to the EPA’s authority to regulate power plant emissions. Should the court rule against the EPA, that could hamper the Biden administration’s plans to combat climate change, as regulating authority could shift to Congress.
The White House argues the Clean Air Act gives the EPA broad powers. That act, though, was written long before climate change was identified as a threat. Some court watchers, therefore, suspect the justices will rule the agency is overstepping its power and rule against the EPA. The big question is how drastically those powers might be curtailed.
The Biden administration has been expected to unveil power plant regulation rules this summer, a part of the president’s goal for the entire U.S. power grid to run on clean energy by 2035. This ruling could delay those, however—especially if decision-making authority is shifted to Congress.
Supreme Court could severely limit the power of the EPA this week
West Virginia v. the Environmental Protection Agency has the potential to sharply curtail the power of the EPA.
