to create regulations beyond what is specifically outlined by Congress.
For instance, the Clean Air Act does not specifically authorize the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The agency has interpreted that authority under the act’s general provision of addressing air pollution —But with the court shifting to the right over the past eight years, there is widespread belief the court could now move to severely limit how the EPA can regulate carbon emissions.
“It used to be if there was a big question , the Supreme Court would decide,” said Kirti Datla, an attorney with the environmental group Earth Justice. “Now they seem to be saying when Congress wants to allow agencies to do big things, Congress needs to be very clear about that — whatever ‘that’ means.”, with wind and solar installations far outpacing the development of traditional power generation.
But this progress is not happening fast enough to achieve the emissions targets that scientists say are necessary to avoid the worst effects of climate change.