The Environmental Protection Agency now has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, the U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday. The ruling blocked a federal lawsuit by states and conservation groups that were trying to force cuts in power plant emissions.

The lawsuit brought by eight states—California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin—targeted the five largest utility companies, Xcel Energy, American Electric Power Co. of Ohio, Cinergy Co., Southern Co. Inc. of Georgia and the federal Tennessee Valley Authority.

The Supreme Court voted 8-0 to block the suit.