With the end of the first quarter of 2021 approaching, we thought it timely to issue an update on selected recent developments and proposed changes in law and policy touching environmental, land use, and natural resource...more
Renewable Energy Focus -
Trump names climate change skeptic and oil industry ally to lead the EPA -
Los Angeles Times -
Dec 7 -
Donald Trump picked Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt to run the...more
Renewable Energy Focus -
Renewable portfolio standards drive 60% of U.S. clean energy boom -
Greentech Media - Apr 15 -
The renewable portfolio standards that many states have enacted are responsible for 60...more
4/25/2016
/ Audubon Society ,
Clean Energy ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Geothermal Energy ,
New Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
SEPA ,
Sierra Club ,
Solar Energy ,
Southern California Edison
Renewable Energy Focus -
NV Energy invites proposals for 135 megawatts of renewables in Nevada -
SeeNews Renewables - Feb 25 Utility NV Energy Inc. said on Thursday it wants to acquire 35 megawatts of renewable...more
Renewable Energy Focus -
President Obama requests significant funding boost for clean energy R&D -
Solar Industry Magazine - Feb 9 -
President Barack Obama’s 2017 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of...more
2/17/2016
/ Barack Obama ,
California Energy Commission ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydropower ,
Job Creation ,
Order to Stay ,
Power Purchase Agreements ,
Renewable Energy ,
Research and Development ,
SCOTUS ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
Renewable Energy Focus - Large-scale renewables account for more than 60% of new energy capacity in the U.S. - CleanTechnica - Oct 28:
Recent figures reveal that utility-scale renewable energy projects accounted for more...more
11/3/2015
/ Barack Obama ,
Biomass ,
Board of Education ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
CPUC ,
Electric Generation Suppliers ,
Electricity Costs ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
FERC ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Hydropower ,
IKEA ,
Natural Gas ,
Net Metering ,
Photovoltaic ,
Renewable Energy ,
San Diego Gas & Electric ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs ,
Wind Power
Renewable Energy Focus - EPA warns of high cost of climate change: New York Times - Jun 22:
In the absence of global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the United States by the end of the century may face up to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - House votes to block EPA, Army Corps of Engineers' proposed definition of "waters of the United States": Visalia Times-Delta - May 12:
House Republicans on Tuesday voted to block...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Army Corps jurisdictional determinations subject to pre-permit judicial review, Eighth Circuit says - Allen Matkins - Apr 13:
EPA and Army Corps of Engineers imposition of federal...more
4/20/2015
/ Clean Water Act ,
Condemnation ,
Construction Industry ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Forest Service ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Jurisdiction ,
Nestle ,
Public Projects ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Water Supplies
Environmental and Policy Focus - EPA emissions rules face Supreme Court test: NPR - Mar 25:
On April 1, the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to Obama Administration rules aimed at limiting the amount of mercury and...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: California renewable energy zone plan gets revamp after criticism: Reuters - Mar 10:
An ambitious plan to put California's renewable energy projects in areas where the environment will...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: California lawmakers introduce sweeping new measures to increase renewable energy, cut fossil fuel use - San Jose Mercury News - Feb 10:
Last Tuesday, California lawmakers unveiled a...more
2/24/2015
/ Airports ,
Aviation Industry ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Water Act ,
Disney ,
Drought ,
Electricity ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
US Fish and Wildlife Service ,
Water ,
Water Supplies
Environmental and Policy Focus: State court may tighten review process for building super-sized homes - SFGate.com - Dec 8:
In a case that could redefine the scope of California’s environmental laws, the state Supreme...more
12/16/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
Building Permits ,
Building Standards ,
Construction Industry ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
San Diego ,
Single Family Housing ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus: New dust control method ends L.A.'s longtime feud with Owens Valley: Los Angeles Times - Nov 14:
The City of Los Angeles ended a bitter dispute with Owens Valley on Friday with the...more
12/8/2014
/ Air Quality Standards ,
City of Los Angeles ,
Delta Smelt ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
NOAA ,
NRDC ,
Pesticides ,
Salton Sea ,
Water ,
Wind Farm ,
Wind Power
Environmental and Policy Focus: Coastal California residents using far less water - Associated Press - Nov 4:
Residents in coastal communities use far less water than their inland counterparts, but still find ways to...more
12/8/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
Automotive Industry ,
CEQA ,
Clean Air Act ,
Coastal Real Estate ,
Drought ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hyundai ,
Kia ,
San Diego ,
SCAQMD ,
Water
Environmental and Policy Focus - Coastal California residents using far less water: Associated Press - Nov 4:
Residents in coastal communities use far less water than their inland counterparts, but still find ways to...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Groups sue EPA over failure to reduce air pollution: KPCC - Oct 17:
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against the U.S. Environmental...more
10/28/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
CEQA ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Mitigation ,
Public Comment ,
Public Meetings ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sewer Systems ,
US Army Corps of Engineers ,
Wetlands
Environmental and Policy Focus - Obama to designate portion of San Gabriel Mountains a national monument: Los Angeles Times - Oct 8:
President Obama plans to announce Friday that he will set aside roughly half of the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: U.S. EPA settles case over destruction of rare Central Valley wetlands: EPA - Aug 14:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a...more
8/27/2014
/ Clean Water Act ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of the Interior ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
National Park Service ,
Oil & Gas ,
Redevelopment ,
Settlement ,
Water ,
Water Supplies ,
Wetlands
Environmental and Policy Focus - Richmond approves massive Chevron refinery project with $90 million in community benefits: Contra Costa Times - Jul 30:
Chevron's five year-plus quest to initiate a $1 billion upgrade...more
8/6/2014
/ Caltrans ,
Chevron ,
Desalination ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Fracking ,
Fracking Bans ,
Highways ,
Infrastructure ,
Municipal Bonds ,
Oil & Gas ,
Refineries ,
Trade Associations ,
Waste Treatment Facilities ,
Water ,
Well Drilling
Environmental and Policy Focus: House holds hearing on proposed ‘Waters of the United States’ rule - Association of California Water Agencies - Jul 9:
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing...more
7/14/2014
/ Cap-and-Trade ,
Chemical Safety Board ,
Chevron ,
City of Los Angeles ,
Clean Water Act ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
Water ,
Waters of the United States
Renewable Energy Focus - Supreme Court upholds EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas: Allen Matkins - Jun 24:
On Monday, June 23, in a long-awaited decision, the U.S. Supreme Court in Utility Air Regulatory Group v....more
7/10/2014
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Air Act ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
SCOTUS ,
Utility Air Regulatory Group v EPA
Focus:
Supreme Court upholds EPA's power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from large stationary sources – but scolds EPA for overreaching in its regulatory approach -
Allen Matkins - Jun 24:
On...more
7/3/2014
/ BACT ,
Clean Air Act ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Permits ,
Power Plants ,
SCOTUS ,
Title V ,
Utilities Sector ,
Utility Air Regulatory Group v EPA
Environmental and Policy Focus: California is ahead of EPA on climate rules - Los Angeles Times - Jun 5:
In 2006, when California adopted AB 32, its landmark global warming law, it acted virtually alone. Now, the state...more
6/10/2014
/ BP ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Review ,
Fracking ,
Global Warming ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Real Estate Development ,
U.S. Navy
Renewable Energy Focus: The EPA’s new carbon rules could be a major boost to renewable energy - Greentech Media - Jun 2:
The EPA’s new carbon rule could grow renewable capacity by an additional 70 percent in the next...more
6/10/2014
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydropower ,
Power Plants ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power