The Continuing Impact of Coal Ash - Energy Law Insights
The methodology outlines a three-step approach for obtaining credits: retirement of coal-fired power plants, generation of replacement renewable electricity, and assurance of a just transition....more
Introduction: Hidden Challenges of Energy Transition - The evolution of energy transition in the United States has been driven, historically, by advances in new technology, fuel availability, fuel pricing, and, probably...more
Coal ash – the byproduct of two centuries of burning coal to generate power – continues to roil the U.S. energy sector. Troutman Pepper’s Brian Harms and Brooks Smith discuss the dilemmas facing utilities and other energy...more
FERC Warned Renewables Planning Can Strand Grid Assets - "But at a FERC technical conference, others highlighted a potential risk for overbuilding and the cost it could incur for consumers." Why this is important: It's...more
Gas Stations Run Dry as Pipeline Races to Recover From Hacking - "Gas stations along the U.S. East Coast are beginning to run out of fuel as North America’s biggest petroleum pipeline races to recover from a paralyzing...more
New Law Pushes Appalachian Power Toward More Renewable Energy - "Appalachian — which for years has relied heavily on coal and more recently natural gas to serve about 500,000 western Virginia customers — will acquire 210...more
Industry Expert Insights - We reached out to one of our Lex Mundi partners and a well-known expert in France in the energy and legal industries to get his thoughts on the current energy climate. Michel Guénaire is a...more
China Resumes LNG Imports from the U.S. - "Chinese buyers have resumed imports of liquefied natural gas from U.S. exporters, as Beijing started granting waivers to a 25% import tariff." Why this is important: In the...more
Why Everything They Say About California Fires — Including That Climate Matters Most — is Wrong - "'We’ve looked at the history of climate and fire throughout the whole state, and through much of the state, particularly...more
Supreme Court Showdown Set Over Pipeline Crossing of Appalachian Trail - "Led by Dominion and Duke Energy, the company contends that 'long-standing precedent' allows pipelines to cross the 2,000-mile national scenic...more
Trump's EPA Grants 31 Small Refinery Waivers from Biofuel Laws, Angering Corn Lobby - "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted 31 small refinery biofuel waivers for 2018, infuriating the ethanol and corn...more
On June 19, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the final “Affordable Clean Energy” (“ACE”) rule to replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan (“CPP”), which was suspended by the U.S. Supreme Court after...more
Analysts Say U.S. Coal Merger Not Anti-Competitive- "The proposed 'extraordinary' joint venture between U.S. coal majors Peabody Energy and Arch Coal will be structurally beneficial, rather than anti-competitive for U.S....more
The United States Energy Administration (“EIA”) issued a June 26th report noting that for the first time United States monthly electricity generation from renewable sources exceeded coal-fired generation. The data...more
Trump Said to Seek Limits on State Power in Pipeline Approvals - "Trump's order comes as the president continues to chafe at regulatory barriers he says throttle the full potential of American 'energy dominance,' while...more
Romney Helps GOP Look for New Path on Climate Change - "But a group of Republicans -- Romney and Sens. Lamar Alexander and Lindsey Graham, who worked with Democrats in 2009 and 2010 to cap carbon emissions, as well as others...more
West Virginia Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in EQT Doddridge County Trespassing Case - "The state Supreme Court will decide if a lower court judge got it right when he ruled natural gas production company EQT trespassed...more
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Floats 70% Tax on Wealthy to Pay for 'Green New Deal' - "Ocasio-Cortez has put forward a 'Green New Deal' that includes generating the nation's power from renewable sources, building a national...more
On Tuesday, August 21, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule, a proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan issued in 2015. EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler...more
President Donald Trump’s recently signed Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth (the Order) includes significant revisions to the regulatory landscape both (1) directly in the case of oil and...more
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed legislation enacting a new community solar program permitting utilities and third parties to own or operate a community-based renewable energy project. The law also sets a specific target...more
The Oregon Legislature on Wednesday passed a sweeping and contentious bill that signals significant changes for the state’s energy industry. Senate Bill 1547, the final home for the “Oregon Clean Electricity and Coal...more
Xcel Energy announced this afternoon its intent to cease coal-fired generation at Sherco Units 1 and 2 in 2026 and 2023, respectively, while adding 1,200 MW of new renewable sources (800 MW of wind and 400 MW of solar) by...more
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the Clean Power Plan (Plan) in its final form on August 3, 2015. The rule reshapes energy policy nationwide by setting state-by-state greenhouse gas emissions...more
Renewable Energy Focus - Another solar record set, renewables power nearly quarter of California: KCET - May 20 -- Yet another milestone in California's quest to go solar: the state's industrial-sized solar power...more