⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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National Association of Home Builders of the United States v. District of Columbia — D.C. Cir. (argued September 8, 2026)

No. 26-7050 Argued September 8, 2026 Published September 9, 2026

The District of Columbia Circuit considers whether the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, or EPCA, preempts Washington's Clean Buildings Act. The local law requires certain new or substantially renovated buildings to meet a net-zero-energy standard and generally bars on-site fossil-fuel combustion. The home builders and allied groups say the ban effectively sets covered gas appliances' energy use at zero. The District says it regulates fuel source, not appliance performance. The district court agreed with the District and granted it summary judgment.

National Association of Home Builders of the United States v. District of Columbia (No. 26-7050) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued September 8, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/09/26-7050.mp3
Argument listing and counsel — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/9
District-court opinion — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/district-of-columbia/dcdce/1%3A2024cv02942/273899/48/0.pdf
Appeal docket and counsel record — D.C. Circuit:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/cadc/26-7050
Clean Buildings Act — Code of the District of Columbia:https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/6-1453.01%28Perm%29
EPCA preemption provision — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title42-section6297
J. Mark Little — Baker Botts:https://www.bakerbotts.com/people/l/little-j-mark
Counsel record for Charles E.T. Roberts — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/d9/2026-08/fcmc_complaint-filed.pdf

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