SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN CALIFORNIA’S GREEN MANDATES
In a landmark 7–2 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down California’s electric vehicle mandates and strict emissions targets, delivering a serious blow to Governor Gavin Newsom’s climate agenda. Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that the state’s policies could violate federal law, giving energy producers a pathway to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of these regulations.
“The government may not strangle an industry through unlawful regulation and then hide behind immunity,” Kavanaugh wrote, directly criticizing the EPA for its shifting legal positions over time.
The decision represents a major win for American fuel manufacturers and a setback for Newsom, whose plan to phase out gas-powered cars by 2035 was a central part of his green strategy. Environmental advocates warn that this ruling could slow the state’s progress on climate change initiatives.