Supreme Court Declines to Hear Washington Cap-and-Trade Case (1)

The US Supreme Court on Monday declined to consider whether Washington state’s cap-and-trade greenhouse gas program discriminates against other states.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided with Washington in December after Chicago energy company Invenergy Thermal LLC said the state’s decision to give free carbon emission allowances to Washington utilities unfairly burdened out-of-state energy producers.

“Every court that has been called upon to evaluate any aspect of the CCA (Climate Commitment Act)—at least two dozen cases and counting—has ruled in favor of the state, including decisions affirming Washington’s ability to take action on climate change,” Washington ...