On April 15, 2024, the EEOC published its Final Rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The Rule goes into effect on June 18, 2024, and will govern all...more
Welcome to our first SuperVision e-newsletter of 2024. Although we are only four months into 2024, it has already been an incredibly active year on the labor and employment front. On Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission...more
4/25/2024
/ Classification ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Definition ,
Employee Transfers ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Federal Bans ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Final Rules ,
Independent Contractors ,
Minimum Salary ,
Muldrow v City of St Louis ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
OSHA ,
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ,
SCOTUS ,
Wage and Hour
Solar Powered Generation Sees Significant Growth while Some Solar Energy is Increasingly Blocked from Production -
Our Currents focus article this month is on developments in the growth of solar electric power generation...more
4/19/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government
Record U.S. Oil Production and the Potential Impacts -
Domestic oil production in the U.S. reached a new record in November 2023, hitting 13.31 million barrels per day, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information...more
3/21/2024
/ China ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy
Welcome to the second 2024 issue of Currents - our e-newsletter focused on energy topics.
Business today is characterized by relentless change. To assist our clients in navigating this dynamic landscape, we pride...more
2/16/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Green Energy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydropower ,
International Energy Agency (IEA) ,
Liquid Natural Gas ,
Natural Gas ,
Offshore Wind ,
Renewable Energy
Solar is Coming, Solar is Here: The Growth of Solar in Coal Country -
We reviewed a variety of news stories discussing new solar projects in states – Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania – that have traditionally...more
1/19/2024
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Cybersecurity ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Global Warming ,
Nuclear Power ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Technology
We reviewed a variety of news stories discussing new solar projects in states – Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania – that have traditionally relied heavily on coal and carbon-emitting fuels. The articles reveal lessons...more
On Tuesday, January 9, 2024, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) announced its final rule on independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). This final rule will be important to entities, including...more
We are excited to kick off 2024 with more in-depth insights into the construction industry and legal issues that can impact your business. Our goal is to provide the most up-to-date information along with our thoughts and...more
1/10/2024
/ Biden Administration ,
Child Labor ,
Construction Industry ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Final Rules ,
Florida ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
OSHA ,
Project Labor Agreements ,
Regulatory Mandates ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
In June 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued rulings in two related cases: Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, Nos. 20-1199 & 21-707,...more
1/4/2024
/ Affirmative Action ,
Diversity ,
Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I) ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Race Discrimination ,
SCOTUS ,
Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard College ,
Students for Fair Admissions v University of North Carolina
On several fronts in 2023, we saw federal agencies and entities attacking the scope and enforceability of certain employment agreements, including non-disclosure, confidentiality, and non-compete agreements. Employers need to...more
12/28/2023
/ Confidentiality Agreements ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
NLRB ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Section 7
Attacks on Non-Disclosure, Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreements in 2023 -
On several fronts in 2023, we saw federal agencies and entities attacking the scope and enforceability of certain employment agreements,...more
12/21/2023
/ Confidentiality Agreements ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Groff v DeJoy ,
Harassment ,
Joint Employers ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
NLRB ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
OSHA ,
Pregnancy ,
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Religious Accommodation ,
SCOTUS ,
State Labor Laws ,
Title VII
NY Governor's Veto of Wind Power Bill “Undermines Industry," Critics Say-
“The bill known as the ‘Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act’ has been working its way through the state legislature since April 2023.”
Why...more
12/6/2023
/ Building Codes ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Litigation ,
Construction Project ,
Contractors ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licensing Rules ,
Mechanics Lien ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Solar Farm ,
State and Local Government ,
Technology Sector ,
Unions
Pennsylvania and RGGI – Decision and Resolution -
On November 1, 2023, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, in a five-judge panel decision, issued a long-awaited ruling denying the authority of the executive branch,...more
11/17/2023
/ Alaska ,
Arctic Drilling ,
Biden Administration ,
Bill Gates ,
China ,
Class Action ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
RGGI ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Wind Power
Chevron Doctrine -
The Chevron Doctrine -- what is often referred to as “Chevron deference” – is based on the precedent set by the Supreme Court about four decades ago, which some argue has overly empowered the...more
10/19/2023
/ Batteries ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Charging Stations ,
Chevron Deference ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Coal ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
OSHA ,
Reporting Requirements
New Business Reporting Obligations for Employers: Beneficial Ownership Information Under the Corporate Transparency Act -
Effective January 1, 2024, most legal entities incorporated, organized, or registered to do business...more
10/3/2023
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Intentional Torts ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
OSHA ,
Over-Time ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Workplace Safety
The Virginia Clean Energy Act, the Botetourt County Battery Power Facility and the Impact on the Commonwealth -
The Virginia Clean Energy Act (“VCEA”) mandates that Dominion Energy Virginia and Appalachian Power, the two...more
9/22/2023
/ Advanced Batteries ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Cybersecurity ,
Disparate Treatment ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Sector ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Mineral Leases ,
Natural Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Virginia
What is the Hydrogen Hubbub?
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future, a substance that can provide heat through combustion, or electrical power from fuel cells, emitting only water in the process. Its potential...more
8/17/2023
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Steel Industry ,
Transmission Grid
Domestic Nuclear Power Advancement: Barriers to Entry and the Need for a National Strategy -
As previously reported on this site, nuclear generation development has taken hold as a potential promise for a long-term,...more
7/20/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Italy ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Natural Gas ,
Norway ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
World’s Largest 3D Printed Building Erected in Florida -
“With a total floor area of more than 10,100 sq ft or about 940 m2, the structure is apparently nearly 50% larger than the previous record-holder in the Middle East,...more
7/5/2023
/ 3-D Technology ,
3D Printing ,
Amazon ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Commercial Buildings ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Project ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Energy Projects ,
Engineering ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Harassment ,
Managers ,
Performance Reviews ,
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ,
Solar Energy ,
Technology Sector
On July 1, 2023, laws that were passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Glenn Younkin become effective in Virginia. In the most recent legislative session, a number of new employment laws were passed...more
6/21/2023
/ Cybersecurity ,
Disclosure ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Policies ,
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ,
General Assembly ,
New Legislation ,
Organ Donation ,
Paid Leave ,
Sexual Assault ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures ,
Unemployment Reform ,
Virginia
Considerations for Employing AI in the Workplace -
What is workplace artificial intelligence or AI? In its simplest form, AI in the workplace is the use of technology or software to monitor employees’ work performance,...more
6/21/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Confidential Information ,
Discrimination ,
Employee Evaluations ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Harassment ,
Managers ,
New Legislation ,
NLRB General Counsel ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Performance Reviews ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Technology Sector ,
Training ,
Virginia ,
Wage and Hour
Balancing Reliability, Affordability, and Renewability in the Energy Transition -
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in...more
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in response to the risks of climate change. As the article, “Clean energy investment is...more
An Uncertain Future for Nuclear Generation -
As countries and companies around the world set goals for renewable energy targets, there is constant uncertainty as to the best path for reaching these goals. While wind and...more
5/11/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
NOAA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy