On July 29, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in Winding Creek Solar LLC v. Peterman et al. (Nos. 17-17531 & 32) strongly upholding core principles of the Public Utility Regulatory...more
Following on the heels of recent Washington legislation promoting electrification of the transportation system, Oregon Governor Kate Brown on July 15 signed SB 1044, legislation that strengthens Oregon’s legislative and...more
On July 30, the Washington Utility and Transportation Commission (UTC) and Department of Commerce (Commerce) will initiate the lengthy process of developing administrative rules to implement the newly-enacted Clean Energy...more
As part of its comprehensive effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Washington, the 2019 legislature adopted a new measure, HB 1257, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Washington’s commercial building...more
As part of a package of bills aimed at reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, the 2019 Washington State legislature passed legislation that should accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), as well as...more
The South Coast Air Quality Management District adopted an amendment to its Rule 301 on June 7, aimed at collecting nearly ten times the amount of fees it has historically garnished under its toxics emissions fee program. The...more
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has proposed regulations that would allow discarded photovoltaic (PV) modules (commonly referred to as solar panels) to be managed as universal waste. The proposal...more
The strongest state chemicals bill in the country was signed into Washington state law this week. The law empowers the state Department of Ecology (DoE) to restrict the use of chemicals in virtually any consumer product and...more
Last year saw significant efforts to either impose a price on carbon or reform existing programs, and in some cases roll those programs back. The Paris Agreement advanced a critical step, but without settling on rules for...more
2/15/2019
/ Canada ,
Cap-and-Trade ,
CARB ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Carbon Pricing ,
Carbon Taxes ,
China ,
Emissions Trading System ,
EU ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Low Carbon Fuel Standard ,
Renewable Energy
On February 8, 2019, Oregon lawmakers formally introduced a proposed cap-and-trade bill to address GHG emissions. HB 2020, introduced by the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction, would make Oregon the second state after...more
After 10 years on ice, EPA’s 2009 project aggregation rule may finally see its day in court.
On Monday, January 14, 2019, NRDC filed a petition for judicial review of EPA’s recent revival of a 2009 Rule that amended EPA’s...more
One of this Administration’s top priorities is to improve the nation’s energy policy by removing unduly burdensome regulations. The past year has brought considerable EPA action on rules affecting electric utilities, with...more
Q2 was a busy one for carbon markets. On the international front, talks to develop the Paris Rulebook advanced, but progress was slower than hoped. Ontario announced withdrawal from the Western Climate Initiative, while...more
EPA’s Office of Transportation Air Quality recently issued a report titled “EPA and Port Everglades Partnership: Emission Inventories and Reduction Strategies” (“the Port Everglades Report”). The Port Everglades Report comes...more
On May 24, 2018, in a significant decision with far-reaching implications for cleanups at Washington’s contaminated sites, the Washington State Supreme Court narrowed the scope of “owner or operator” liability under the state...more
On March 13, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released a guidance memorandum announcing a new policy designed to clarify when a proposed project will trigger New Source Review (“NSR”) under the Clean...more
The first quarter of 2018 has been a busy one for efforts to put a price on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, both in the United States and abroad. In February, the European Union (EU) approved reforms to the EU Emissions...more