Updated March 28, 2022 -
As we previously reported, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in February issued two new policy statements likely to have far-reaching implications for the agency’s approval of...more
On February 17, 2022, by a 3-2 vote, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted a new Interim Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Policy Statement (GHG Policy Statement) setting forth an interim framework for...more
At its February meeting, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or Commission) released a long-awaited Updated Policy Statement on Certification of New Interstate Natural Gas Facilities (Updated Policy Statement),...more
On November 2, 2021, President Biden released the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan, calling for substantial reductions in U.S. methane emissions, was announced in tandem with an...more
On October 29, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of the D.C. Circuit’s decision vacating the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, the Trump Administration’s action to address CO2 emissions from existing...more
On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (DC Circuit) rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) environmental analysis of a group of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)...more
On July 2, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit waded into the controversy surrounding proper interpretation of the one-year deadline for state action contained in Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Its...more
On July 2, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit waded into the controversy surrounding proper interpretation of the one-year deadline for state action contained in Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Its...more
On June 26, 2021, in the waning hours of Oregon’s legislative session, the legislature passed House Bill 2021 (H.B. 2021 or the Act) - Oregon’s take on sweeping climate legislation for retail electricity generation. Notably,...more
On June 11, 2021, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed a law, HB 2377, intended to make the insurance policies of dissolved Oregon corporations and limited liability companies available to fund contaminated site cleanups. The...more
Now that Washington’s 2021–2022 budget bill has become law, there is increased pressure on water users in the Nooksack basin to settle their disputes before the state steps in and files an adjudication. Washington’s 2021–2022...more
On May 17, 2021, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which will create an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create a system in which GHG credits are auctioned...more
After four tries to enact a low carbon fuel standard, Governor Jay Inslee on May 17, 2021, signed HB 1091, new legislation that will establish a Clean Fuels Program (CFP) designed to limit the carbon intensity of...more
In its just-concluded session, the Washington legislature passed several pieces of legislation intended to promote the transition of Washington’s transportation system away from fossil fuels. The most consequential of these,...more
In an address from Pittsburgh, “the City of Bridges,” President Biden on March 31, 2021, proposed the “American Jobs Plan,” which would spend approximately $2 trillion over the next ten years on a wide variety of...more
On March 22, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an order setting forth new standards it will use to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with natural gas pipeline projects. The order,...more
On March 18, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) adopted a Final Rule requiring state agencies to issue Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 water quality certificates within one year of receiving a request or...more
It’s no secret that President Biden plans to prioritize action on climate change. During his presidential campaign, Biden identified climate change as one of his top four priorities, and announced he would seek to put the...more
On February 6, 2021, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) proposed legislation that would breach four dams on the Lower Snake River while requiring the power, transportation, and irrigation benefits of the dams to be replaced and...more
On February 1st, 2021, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s natural gas ban. Last December, Mayor Durkan sent City Council proposed legislation to update Seattle’s Commercial Energy Code....more
On January 19, 2021, the D.C. Circuit vacated the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, the Trump Administration’s action to address CO2 emissions from existing coal-fired power plants. The ACE rule repealed an Obama-era rule...more
As we previously reported, in June 2020, the Treasury Department issued proposed regulations to implement Section 45Q of the Tax Code, which provides tax credits for capturing and sequestering carbon oxides that would...more
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed H.R. 133, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021,” an agglomeration of dozens of individual pieces of legislation which together total nearly 6,000 pages. While general press...more
12/31/2020
/ Climate Change ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Energy Sector ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Investment Tax Credits ,
Offshore Wind ,
Popular ,
Production Tax Credit ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
On December 16, 2020, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) issued a Policy Statement on renewable natural gas program design that provides important guidance for expansion of this nascent industry in...more
Seattle City Light (City Light) has announced that it will significantly expand its “Energy Efficiency as a Service” (EEaS) pilot program in 2021. As we have described in more detail here and here, City Light’s program...more