High Court to Hear Calif. Emissions Waiver Case

The Supreme Court will take up a case against California’s stricter emissions standards. 

Diamond Alternative Energy’s petition was accepted by the court Dec. 13, according to a release. Its appeal comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a waiver in April allowing California to set heftier emissions standards. 

The circuit court ruled that Diamond and the 17 co-signing states in the suit had no standing to raise their claims. The Supreme Court petition asked the court to rule on both the standing of the parties and the lawfulness of the waiver.  

In its announcement, the Supreme Court said it will only hear arguments on legal standing. So, if the decision is in favor of the petitioners, the case will go back to the circuit court. 

While the lawsuit specifically deals with California’s Advanced Clean Cars rule, the high court’sdecision could impact the other two related rules, as well as lawsuits against them: Advanced Clean Fleets and Advanced Clean Trucks. 

Relatedly, on Dec. 16, the Supreme Court denied a petition to hear a case from 17 states, spearheaded by Ohio, challenging the same waiver. While no reason for the denial was given in the release, it did note that Judge Clarence Thomas would have accepted the petition.