Overview

• The Environment and Natural Resources Division asked a federal judge to declare the statute invalid and to permanently enjoin any effort to implement or enforce it.
• Justice Department filings cite a Jan. 20 executive order on energy security and argue that the state law conflicts with federal authority.
• The New York statute would impose as much as $75 billion in liability on energy companies for alleged past contributions to climate change.
• Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson said individual states lack authority to regulate nationwide or global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Parallel challenges continue, including DOJ’s May complaint against New York and Vermont and a separate 22-state attorneys general suit, with no court ruling issued.