Question:
In 2007, it was found that Title II of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) "authorized EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles if the Agency formed a judgment that such emissions contribute to climate change." Subsequently, the EPA began heavily regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to regulating emissions from new motor vehicles, the EPA also began making stationary sources of greenhouse gases, such as factories and power plants, subject to the Act's "Prevention of Significant Deterioration" (PSD) provisions, based on the potential of stationary sources to emit greenhouse gases. Numerous parties, including several states, challenged the EPA's greenhouse gas-related actions by filing for petitions for review in the D.C. Circuit. The case eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it would decide if it was permissible for the EPA to determine whether its new motor vehicle greenhouse gas regulations could lead to requirements under the act for stationary sources of greenhouse gases. How do you think the Court ruled? Why? Util. Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 134 S. Ct. 2427 (U.S. 2014).