The Supreme Court on Wednesday handed President Joe Biden a surprise victory as it allowed the Environmental Protection Agency to temporarily enforce its rules regulating planet-warming pollution from power plants.

The EPA set new emissions standards for power plants two years after the Supreme Court rejected the Obama administration's rules.

The Biden administration has said its plan would protect communities from pollution and help the nation meet long-term goals to combat the climate crisis.

The Supreme Court has declined for now to block a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that limits carbon emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants, temporarily allowing the regulation to remain in place.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block a Biden administration rule setting climate standards for power plants — but hinted it could take up the case at a later time. The high court rejected requests from red states and industry stakeholders to temporarily halt the rule while other litigation against it plays out.