The Supreme Court this week reshaped how the federal government thinks about fossil fuel infrastructure.

While environmental groups frequently describe projects ranging from coal mines to pipelines as “carbon bombs,” the high court says that may not be the case — finding the projects themselves are not responsible for the upstream or downstream pollution for fuel or other products they simply transport or produce.

The high court narrowed the scope of environmental reviews taken by agencies when they determine whether to approve an infrastructure project — and the grounds upon which such reviews can be challenged.

The 8-0 ruling is a blow to those fighting to protect the environment and a win for developers and fossil fuel companies, making it more difficult to challenge a project on its climate or environmental grounds, or even to get information about its environmental impacts.

“It is going to grease the wheels for … fossil energy approvals,” said Travis Annatoyn, who was an attorney at the Interior Department during the Biden administration.

“I think it’s going to make a difference,” added Annatoyn, who is now with the law firm Arnold & Porter. “You will see courts take a more hands-off approach to reviewing technical analysis.”

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