The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a significant blow to California’s aggressive climate policies in a 7-2 decision that allowed energy producers to proceed with a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The suit challenges the EPA’s approval of California’s stringent green energy mandates, particularly the requirement for electric vehicles to dominate the state’s auto market by 2035. This mandate is a key part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s broader push toward carbon neutrality. Notably, even one liberal justice sided with the conservative majority in this decision, signaling bipartisan concern over the state’s regulatory overreach.
Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that the federal government cannot impose strict and potentially unlawful regulations on industries and then prevent those industries from seeking legal recourse. He pointed out that fuel producers have the constitutional right, under Article III, to challenge California’s regulations. Kavanaugh also criticized the EPA for shifting its legal stance over time, undermining the credibility of its arguments in defense of California’s emissions policies.
The Supreme Court’s ruling follows other recent developments that have undercut California’s climate agenda. Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump signed multiple resolutions dismantling parts of the state’s environmental regulations. This move represents a substantial setback for Newsom, who is widely seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential election. Trump’s actions are part of a broader push to curtail what he and his allies view as excessive and economically damaging climate policies.
Chet Thompson, president and CEO of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers—the group behind the lawsuit—welcomed the court’s decision. He argued that California’s electric vehicle mandates are both unlawful and harmful to the nation’s energy sector. According to Thompson, Congress never granted California the authority to mandate EV production or to ban gas-powered vehicle sales, and he accused the state of misinterpreting federal law to push its own agenda.
In a separate but related legal development, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Trump in a dispute over control of the California National Guard. This overturned a lower court ruling that had found Trump’s federalization of Guard troops unconstitutional under the 10th Amendment. Trump praised the appeals court for allowing him to retain authority, claiming that the deployment helped prevent chaos in Los Angeles. The back-to-back legal victories for Trump and the energy sector mark a difficult period for Governor Newsom and his progressive climate platform.
