Sierra Club, et al. v. U.S. Defense Energy Support Center, et al.

Case Updates

The Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the case because the plaintiffs lacked standing.

According to the court, the plaintiffs’ “attenuated causal chain” demonstrated that it would be “impossible to conclude that the lack of a lifecycle emissions certification in DLA Energy contracts encouraged the producers of fuel from [Canadian oil sands] to engage in mining or production activities that they would not have otherwise taken.”

Moreover, the court said, the plaintiffs could not show that the defendants were responsible for the plaintiffs’ alleged injuries, or that the court could fashion any remedy that would redress those alleged injuries. The court found that “enjoining Defendants” from entering into contracts for the purchase of fuels derived from [Canadian oil sands] will not reduce the climate change-related risks” the plaintiffs allegedly faced.

The U.S. Chamber intervened in support of the Department of Defense (DOD) in a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations under Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). Section 526 requires the government to ensure that any nonconventional fuels it purchases emit lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. The Sierra Club and its co-plaintiffs contend that the DOD violated this provision by purchasing fuels produced from Canadian oil sands-derived crude. An adverse ruling would produce significant long term effects on jobs and growth for American businesses, giving an advantage to businesses operating in other countries.