Landmark Case -- Combined with Congressional Action -- Will Reduce U.S. Carbon Emissions

WASHINGTON (April 1, 2012) – Tomorrow marks the five year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts vs. EPA that gave the agency the authority to regulate heat-trapping emissions. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today said that this case, combined with action by Congress, has enabled the United States to set policies that will reduce emissions, develop better energy technologies, and reduce our dependence on oil.

Rep. Markey is the co-author of the 2007 fuel economy standards that were subsequently updated by the Obama administration using the authority given under Massachusetts v. EPA that will produce a national fuel efficiency of 54.5 miles per gallon, saving millions of barrels of oil. Rep. Markey is also the co-author of the Waxman-Markey climate and energy bill that passed the House in 2009.

Rep. Markey, who is the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement:

“After a week when all eyes were on the Supreme Court over health care, Massachusetts v. EPA stands the test of time as the most significant legal case in environmental and energy policy. Congress wrote the Clean Air Act, but the Court gave it new life, and because of their decision our country is making bold strides in better vehicle technology and in cleaning up our dirtiest power plants.

“Because oil and coal companies and their Republican allies in Congress have blocked comprehensive climate legislation from reaching President Obama’s desk, Massachusetts v. EPA will serve as a life raft for our climate until the manufactured political firestorm over climate science has been defeated.”

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