The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to block a set of Biden administration regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants as the rule was challenged in lower courts.

The court order strengthens the Biden administration’s efforts to combat climate change. A Republican-led coalition of states and businesses challenged the rule, citing the financial cost of complying. Wednesday’s order comes weeks after the court refused to block new anti-pollution rules that impose stricter standards on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants and regulate methane emissions from crude oil facilities and of natural gas.

Contrary to the court’s refusal to intervene in these anti-pollution rules, Wednesday’s decision was not unanimous. Justice Clarence Thomas disagreed with the order, saying it would have suspended enforcement of the regulations while the case played out. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, wrote separately, saying that while the plaintiffs are unlikely to “suffer irreparable harm before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the merits” , they believe that the challengers have shown a strong chance of success. some of their challenges to the rule. Kavanaugh and Gorsuch indicated they might favor the case if it were brought after the D.C. Circuit’s ruling.

These recent decisions not to intervene break with the way the Court has handled EPA litigation. Last summer, the court temporarily blocked the EPA’s “Good Neighbor Plan” in a 5-4 vote, ruling that the emissions reduction standards set by the plan were likely to cause a ” irreparable harm” to nearly half the states unless the court stops the project. decision pending further review by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

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