WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court sided on Friday with fuel producers that had opposed California's standards for vehicle emissions and electric cars under a federal air pollution law, agreeing that their legal challenge to the mandates should not have been dismissed.

The decision revives a lawsuit from fuel producers challenging California’s strict vehicle emission rules, allowing the companies to fight an on-again-off-again climate policy that President Donald Trump has previously opposed.

The 7-to-2 decision stressed that it did not address the merits of the dispute, and concerned only whether the producers had standing to sue.

The Supreme Court on Friday joined President Trump and congressional Republicans in siding with the oil and gas industry in its challenge to California's drive for electric vehicles. In a 7-2 decision,

The Supreme Court ruled that energy producers can sue the Environmental Protection Agency over its 2022 approval of California’s strict vehicle emissions standards. The high court ruled 7-2 in favor of allowing a group of energy producers and royalty owners,

The Supreme Court ruled Friday that fuel producers have standing to challenge EPA approval of California vehicle emissions and electric vehicle policies. Why it matters: The 7-2 decision enables more lines of attack against California officials,

The Supreme Court opened the door Friday for fuel producers to challenge California vehicle emissions standards in a tailored decision that sparked a stinging rebuke from one of the court’s liberal justices.