Clean Fuels Development Coalition v. Kessler

In a case challenging Minnesota’s adoption of California’s low-emission vehicle and zero-emission vehicle standards, the federal district court for the District of Minnesota stayed proceedings during the pendency of <a href="https://climatecasechart.com/case/ohio-v-epa/">Ohio v. EPA,</a> in which the D.C. Circuit has been asked to determine whether the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 preempts California’s standards and whether the Clean Air Act’s provision allowing EPA to grant California preemption waivers is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs challenging Minnesota’s adoption of California’s standards make the same arguments. The court also noted the relevance of a second case pending in the D.C. Circuit (<a href="https://climatecasechart.com/case/texas-v-epa-2/">Texas v. EPA</a>) that was challenging federal emissions standards for 2023 and beyond. The district court found that the risk of contradictory rulings and lack of clarity was “grave” and that it would be “prudent to allow the D.C. Circuit to weigh in first on these heady constitutional issues.” The district court also noted that this case was in its “nascent stages” and that potential prejudice to the petitioners was minimal.