An effort by President Joe Biden’s administration to account for potential damage from greenhouse gas emissions when creating rules for pollution-generating industries has survived another court challenge.A Louisiana-based federal judge had blocked the so-called social cost of carbon policy earlier this year, saying it would bring costly regulatory burdens and drive up energy prices. But a panel of three 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in New Orleans unanimously stayed the lower court last month. On Thursday, the appeals court issued a brief order saying none of the court’s 17 full-time judges sought a rehearing, which had been requested by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.A Louisiana-based federal judge had blocked the so-called social cost of carbon policy earlier this year, saying it would bring costly regulatory burdens and drive up energy prices.
Appeals judges in New Orleans unanimously stayed the lower court last month. On Thursday, the appeals court issued a brief order saying none of the which had been requested by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.On his first day in office, Biden issued an order that restored the cost estimate to ton of carbon dioxide emissions after the Trump administration had reduced the figure. Former President Donald Trump’s estimate included only damage felt in the U.S.
versus the global damage captured in higher estimates that were previously used under the Obama administration.Republicans and business groups have questioned the accuracy of the complex economic models used to determine the cost estimate. They argue that an emphasis on future climate damage would hobble the economy, particularly the energy industry.
