(The Center Square) — A federal judge has dealt a blow to New York's environmental goals by invalidating a key provision of a new law that punishes fossil fuel companies for their alleged role in climate change.

The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Brenda Sannes, issued Monday, hobbled New York's Superfund law by declaring that the federal Clean Air Act preempts a provision requiring fossil fuel companies to pay up to $75 billion into a state fund. Sannes also ruled that federal law prevents New York from collecting money from foreign oil producers, making the new state law unenforceable. 

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