The Supreme Court Monday declined to hear a request from 19 red states hoping to stop blue state lawsuits seeking to extract money from oil companies for allegedly causing damages from climate change. 

The State of Alabama was joined by 18 other Republican attorneys general, including those representing West Virginia and Wyoming, in asking the high court to stop states like California and New Jersey from seeking damages the blue states claim are caused by greenhouse gas emissions from using fossil fuels, which provide about 80% of the world’s energy and thousands of everyday products. 

In January, the court declined to hear a challenge from oil companies over a lawsuit brought by the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii. These cases will now proceed in state courts. However, over the past year, state judges have tossed or narrowed the scope of multiple climate cases brought by state and local governments, including one in New Jersey, against oil companies, raising doubts about their ability to succeed in state courts. 

Critics warn these cases, which also target other large emitters, including utilities and industries, will drive up energy prices for consumers, if successful.