Supreme Court to Review Oil Industry’s Standing in California Emissions Case

The court will decide if fuel companies can challenge California’s EPA waiver allowing stricter vehicle emissions standards.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging whether oil and fuel companies have legal standing to oppose California’s EPA-approved emissions standards.
The case stems from a 2022 Biden administration decision reinstating California’s authority to enforce stricter vehicle emissions rules under the Clean Air Act, after the Trump administration revoked it in 2019.
California’s emissions standards, including a mandate for all new cars to be zero-emission by 2035, have been adopted by 17 other states and are critical to the state’s climate and air quality goals.
The court will not examine the legality of the EPA waiver itself, focusing only on whether the fuel industry is directly impacted and can sue over the standards that primarily regulate automakers.
A ruling on the case, which could have significant implications for California’s environmental policies and federal regulatory authority, is expected by June 2025.