Overview

• The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether fuel producers can challenge the EPA’s 2022 reinstatement of California’s Clean Air Act waiver.
• Justices, both conservative and liberal, expressed support for allowing the lawsuit, questioning the lower court's dismissal for lack of standing.
• California’s waiver enables stricter emission standards and zero-emission mandates, influencing over a dozen states and aiming to phase out gas-powered vehicles by 2035.
• Fuel producers argue the waiver harms their economic interests by reducing demand for liquid fuels, while California contends market forces are driving the shift to electric vehicles.
• A ruling on the standing question, which could set broader precedent for regulatory challenges, is anticipated by June 2025.