Indeed, the United States Supreme Court has upheld California’s authority to set its own vehicle emission standards. This ruling gives the state the platform it needs to implement stronger standards beyond those of the federal Clean Air Act. This decision is merely an early drop in the bucket of an ongoing legal preemption fight. Fuel industry groups and a Valero Energy subsidiary continue their attack on California’s regulatory authority.
Here’s why California has been awarded one waiver after another from the feds. This approval allows the state to impose higher standards for car and truck emissions. During Donald Trump’s presidency, this waiver was eliminated. Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the federal government reestablished this waiver, giving California the independence to push forward its aggressive environmental objectives. We’re with news that California Governor Gavin Newsom is standing up to Trump’s recent decision to revoke this authority. He’s denounced it as illegal and just announced his intention to file suit against the feds.
When Trump signed a joint resolution last week to end the waiver, he kicked off a fresh wave of turf-battling between environmentalists and Republican policymakers. Newsom’s announcement included plans for the state to pursue any needed legal action to defend its right to set tougher standards. He underscored that California’s leadership to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is more critical than ever.
The bad news is that the Supreme Court has indeed just done so, reversing a lower court’s decision. That ruling had thrown out the challenge by Valero and other fuel industry groups as lacking legal standing. Here’s what Justice Brett Kavanaugh— who wrote for the majority— said that’s so important. Environmental justice considerations need not be brushed aside just because of standing arguments, he emphasized. He stated, “The government generally may not target a business or industry through stringent and allegedly unlawful regulation, and then evade the resulting lawsuits by claiming that the targets of its regulation should be locked out of court as unaffected bystanders.”
Environmental advocates and California’s Democratic leadership assert that the waiver has been central in pushing innovation in vehicles. Importantly, they shine a light on its outsized positive impact on reducing greenhouse gases. They claim that all the state’s tough regulations have actually saved lives and delivered billions in health benefits. “The standards have saved hundreds of lives, have provided enormous health benefits, and have saved families money,” said an environmental spokesperson.
American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, who have expressed grave concerns. They fear that California and the federal government will “extend and misuse the Clean Air Act beyond recognition. Oil and gas companies, along with Republican politicians, have claimed that these regulations lead to financial harm for the industry.
The Supreme Court’s decision allows other states to adopt California’s stricter emission standards, which could lead to broader changes in national automotive policies. And starting in 2035, California will ban the sale of any cars that aren’t zero-emission on its territory. This unprecedented action indicates that the state recognizes the seriousness of its commitment to tackling transportation-related pollution.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson did so explicitly in their dissenting opinion. They raised red flags about the potential chilling effect of the ruling on environmental protections. The court’s ruling has ignited conversations about the proper balance between state sovereignty and federal regulatory supremacy over environmental matters.
As Justice Amy Coney Barrett said during the hearings, “That’s not too tall an order.” She was astutely speaking to the legal standards necessary to challenge regulatory decisions.
Even as this media fight continues in the courts, California is resolute in its mission to lead the way in fighting climate change with advanced vehicle standards. The state’s efforts are viewed as essential in achieving federal clean air standards while protecting communities from harmful transportation pollution.