Sierra Club: SCOTUS Decision in West Virginia v. EPA is “deeply disappointing and dangerous”

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Jorja Rose, jorja@team-arc.com

Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision in the crucial climate action case West Virginia v. EPA.

In response, the Sierra Club released the following statement from Andres Restrepo, senior attorney for the Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program:

“This is a deeply disappointing and dangerous decision that eliminates EPA’s most effective tool for reducing harmful climate pollution from existing power plants. This decision gives coal executives and far-right politicians exactly what they asked for by frustrating EPA’s efforts to set strong, effective carbon pollution standards from power plants that would help protect our communities and families. For years, EPA has had the clear authority and duty under the Clean Air Act to effectively reduce climate-disrupting carbon dioxide pollution from fossil fuel-burning power plants, in line with the action the public and science demands. But today’s decision accommodates the powerful instead of the people by seriously narrowing that authority. As scientists warn that we are running out of time to combat the climate crisis, no one should be making it harder for our government to use effective tools to protect our families and communities. 

“Now, EPA must forge ahead and issue new standards that require each of the nation’s remaining coal and gas plants to minimize their pollution to the greatest extent possible. And most importantly, it is up to Congress and the Biden Administration to act quickly to pass bold climate legislation—our future depends on it.”  

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.