A new executive order seeks to streamline funding for and construction of data center projects by reducing regulatory red tape.
On July 23, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order titled “Accelerating...more
7/28/2025
/ Clean Air Act ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Water Act ,
Data Centers ,
Deregulation ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Environmental Policies ,
Executive Orders ,
Expedited Approval Process ,
Federal Funding ,
Infrastructure ,
NEPA ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Trump Administration
The proposal could accelerate the permitting process for carbon capture and storage projects in the state.
On June 9, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a proposed rule that, if approved, would...more
6/16/2025
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Expedited Actions Process ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Oil & Gas ,
Permits ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
State and Local Government ,
Underground Injection Wells
If finalized, the rule would eliminate both Obama- and Biden-era limits on GHG emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants.
On June 11, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rule under...more
6/16/2025
/ Biden Administration ,
Clean Air Act ,
Deregulation ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
National Emissions Standards ,
Obama Administration ,
Popular ,
Power Plants ,
Proposed Rules ,
Repeal ,
Trump Administration
The decision emphasizes the importance of judicial deference to agencies on NEPA and narrows the scope of environmental analyses....more
6/3/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Chevron Deference ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Judicial Deference ,
Judicial Review ,
NEPA ,
Oil & Gas ,
Regulatory Authority ,
SCOTUS ,
Statutory Interpretation
The proposal could accelerate the permitting process for projects in the state, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects....more
5/30/2025
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Comment Period ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Oil & Gas ,
Permits ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Safe Drinking Water Act ,
State and Local Government ,
Underground Injection Wells ,
Underground Regulation
A preliminary injunction motion is set for May, the judge issued a scheduling order, and CARB announced a public workshop to kick off a rulemaking to implement the laws....more
5/22/2025
/ California ,
Climate Change ,
Commercial Litigation ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Government Agencies ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Greenwashing ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process
The Trump administration changes course on regulatory interpretations relating to the scope of protections for endangered and threatened species and migratory birds. ...more
5/6/2025
/ Chevron Deference ,
Endangered Species Act (ESA) ,
Government Agencies ,
Incidental Take Permits ,
Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo ,
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) ,
Proposed Rules ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Trump Administration ,
US Fish and Wildlife Service
The orders span various sectors and aim to introduce sunset provisions into regulations and eliminate regulations deemed unlawful or anti-competitive....more
4/25/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Clean Water Act ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Deregulation ,
Energy Policy ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Executive Orders ,
FERC ,
Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Sackett v EPA ,
SCOTUS ,
Sunset Provisions ,
Trump Administration ,
West Virginia v EPA
The order aims to coordinate government efforts to fast-track permitting and accelerate funding to enhance critical minerals value chains from the mine to finished products....more
3/26/2025
/ Department of Defense (DOD) ,
Department of the Interior ,
Executive Orders ,
Export-Import Bank of the US ,
International Trade ,
Minerals ,
Mining ,
NDAA ,
Permits ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Supply Chain ,
Trump Administration
Paramount to the ruling in the upcoming May 5, 2025, hearing is the likelihood that strict scrutiny will apply to the plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims against SB 253 and SB 261....more
3/10/2025
/ California ,
CARB ,
Chamber of Commerce ,
Climate Change ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
First Amendment ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Strict Scrutiny Standard
This grant of authority could accelerate the permitting process for carbon capture and storage projects in the state.
On February 18, 2025, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a final rule granting West...more
Supremacy Clause and Dormant Commerce Clause claims against SB 253 and SB 261 were dismissed, while claims under the First Amendment proceed to discovery....more
2/27/2025
/ California ,
California Air Resources Board ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Discovery ,
Dormant Commerce Clause ,
Environmental Policies ,
First Amendment ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Supremacy Clause
The final regulations adopt the general framework established in the proposed regulations issued in December 2023, but with several significant modifications....more
President Trump’s orders, which include withdrawing from international climate agreements and declaring an energy emergency, emphasize domestic production and regulatory reform....more
1/22/2025
/ Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Policies ,
Infrastructure ,
Oil & Gas ,
Paris Agreement ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
State of Emergency ,
Trump Administration
CARB will not penalize reporting entities for incomplete Scope 1 and 2 emissions disclosures under SB 253, irritating lawmakers and raising the specter of oversight hearings....more
1/2/2025
/ CARB ,
Climate Change ,
Comment Period ,
Corporate Governance ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Financial Reporting ,
Governor Newsom ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Risk Assessment ,
Rulemaking Process ,
Time Extensions
The proposal represents a step forward for carbon capture and storage projects in the state and could accelerate the permitting process.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a significant regulatory...more
EPA’s transfer of primary enforcement authority to states for carbon capture and storage projects may decrease permitting delays but raise legal questions.
Louisiana has become the third state in the United States to...more
The reform mainly focuses on streamlining and narrowing the scope of environmental review at the federal level.
On June 3, 2023, President Biden signed legislation implementing the bipartisan debt ceiling and budget...more
6/8/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
CEQ ,
CEQA Reform ,
Debt Ceiling ,
Department of Environmental Quality ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Federal Budget ,
Land-Use Permits ,
NEPA ,
Pending Legislation ,
Permits ,
Regulatory Reform
A new proposal aims to streamline the process for permitting and developing offshore renewable energy projects and reduce costs to developers.
On January 30, 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a...more
3/7/2023
/ BOEM ,
Clean Energy ,
Comment Period ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Offshore Lease ,
Offshore Wind ,
Outer Continental Shelf ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Wind Power
California’s first upcoming offshore wind lease sale, scheduled for December 6, 2022, is the next major step forward for clean energy in the Golden State.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the State of...more
12/5/2022
/ BOEM ,
California Coastal Commission ,
Clean Energy ,
Commercial Leases ,
Contract Terms ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Leases ,
Offshore Lease ,
Offshore Wind ,
Outer Continental Shelf ,
Public Bidding ,
Renewable Energy ,
Wind Power
Key Points -
..The draft Clean Hydrogen Production Standard (CHPS) proposes a lifecycle GHG emissions target of 4 kg CO2e per kilogram of hydrogen, which is in line with the clean hydrogen production tax credit in the...more
The climate bills championed by Governor Newsom stand to alter the state’s climate policy for years to come.
On August 31, 2022, the last day of its 2021-2022 session, the California Legislature passed four climate bills...more
9/9/2022
/ CARB ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Sector ,
Governor Newsom ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pending Legislation ,
Pipelines ,
Setback Rules
Governor Newsom introduces five ambitious proposals that could alter California’s climate policy for years to come.
On August 12, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom submitted five climate proposals (the Climate...more
8/29/2022
/ CARB ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Governor Newsom ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Net Zero ,
Oil Wells ,
Pollution Control ,
Proposed Legislation
The Act promises to touch on almost every aspect of US climate policy.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act (the Act), which expands clean and renewable energy production,...more
8/24/2022
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Tax Incentives ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Forest Service ,
Green Banks ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ,
Mineral Leases ,
Offshore Lease ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Energy Incentives ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Zero-Emission Vehicles
A controversial new law gives the California Energy Commission authority over clean energy projects and authorizes the Department of Water Resources to fund new energy sources and extend the life of existing power plants. ...more
7/11/2022
/ California Energy Commission ,
CEQA ,
Clean Energy ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Governor Newsom ,
Jurisdiction ,
Power Grid ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Renewable Energy ,
State Budgets ,
Transmission Grid ,
Tribal Lands