October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1530
Can EPA force power plants to shift generation to other sources?
States and utilities dispute whether the agency can mandate generation shifting to cut emissions.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. See argued Congress directed EPA to regulate source-specific measures.
Mr. Roth stated EPA's power is bounded to existing pollution sources.
General Prelogar claimed the case is not justiciable because no rule is in effect.
Ms. Brinkmann noted power companies use emissions trading to reduce costs.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 7-1 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 7-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Clean Air Act lets EPA set emission limits. The agency claims this includes shifting power to other plants. Opponents say the law only covers changes to a single source.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 47-49
What each side wants
States and utilities want the Court to limit EPA to source-specific controls.
EPA wants the Court to allow generation shifting as a compliance method.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Section 111(d) requires regulating each source individually.
the opposing sides argue the statute permits a system-wide approach to emissions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked what specific system EPA uses for existing plants.
Justice Kagan asked if inside-the-fence reforms could eliminate coal industry jobs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 7-1 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 7-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal environmental regulation. It determines whether agencies can mandate market-wide changes. The outcome shapes how power plants manage emissions and costs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 130, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 130, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 131, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 131, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 132, lines 7-1 — Transcript, file page 132, lines 7-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 133, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 133, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 139, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 139, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 129, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 129, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 135, lines 53-21 — Transcript, file page 135, lines 53-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 29-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 33-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.