WASHINGTON, October 15, 2013 ─ API welcomed a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to consider arguments against the EPA’s approach to regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources, such as refineries. Today, the court granted the trade association’s petition for a hearing on EPA rules that require complex and lengthy permits to build or modify facilities that emit GHGs. API, joined by a coalition of leading manufacturing associations, has pointed out that the EPA’s rules overstep the authority granted by Congress in the Clean Air Act.

“The EPA is seeking to regulate U.S. manufacturing in a way that Congress never planned and never intended,” said Harry Ng, API vice president and general counsel. “The Clean Air Act clearly only requires pre-construction permits for six specific emissions that impact national air quality – not greenhouse gases.

“That kind of overreach can have enormous implications on U.S. competitiveness and the prices that consumers pay for fuel and manufactured goods. We’re pleased that the court has agreed to review our petition – alongside several others – and we look forward to presenting our case.”

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 550 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.