The Continuing Impact of Coal Ash - Energy Law Insights
April has proven a busy month for environmental issues when it comes to the regulatory arena. Below are just a few of the notable developments:...more
Halloween is over, but spooky season just began for anyone that owned, or now owns, a coal-fired power plant. If not already, these facilities should be frightened about the potential liability implicated by the Hazardous and...more
Welcome to the Tenth Issue of Currents 2024, our energy e-newsletter. Natural Gas is Not Going Away - While net-zero remains a dream for many, the electricity market is providing a wake-up call for anyone believing...more
Introduction - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized four separate rules (Power Plant Rules) that set new standards for power plant emissions in the United States. Collectively, these...more
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a suite of final rules aimed at reducing contamination, emissions, and discharges from coal- and gas-fired power plants on April 25. This suite of rules includes two...more
Several states have implemented steps to build up legislative frameworks needed for carbon-capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) projects in the first half of 2023. CCUS refers to the process of capturing...more
On 11 May 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new and existing power plants (the Proposed Rule). EPA projects that the rule, if finalized, would...more
Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency released its long-awaited proposal for New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating...more
In honor of Earth Day, here are three top environmental law issues to watch in 2023. 1. Emerging Contaminants- What are emerging contaminants? The term “emerging contaminants” generally refers to unregulated substances...more
The Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") has announced a new proposed rule that would strengthen the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants ("NESHAP") for Coal- and Oil- Fired Electric Utility Steam...more
West Virginia’s Water and Land Rights EPA Case in U.S. Supreme Court - "West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who led a 26-state coalition in filing a brief in the case, said the High Court heard arguments in a...more
Budget 2022 - On Friday 18th February, Singapore’s Minister for Finance, Mr Lawrence Wong, delivered the country’s 2022 Budget Statement, setting out the Government’s spending plans for the current year and beyond. One of...more
In 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, or the “Agency”) promulgated national regulations governing the disposal of coal ash generated by coal-fired power plants, or coal combustion residuals (CCRs). Following...more
Proceedings filed by public interest group Environment Victoria represent the first climate change litigation in Australia to challenge the licence to operate of coal-fired energy producers. A public interest group has filed...more
Industry Expert Insights - We reached out to a well-known expert in Mexico in the energy and legal industries to get his thoughts on the current energy climate. Juan Serra is a partner in the Mexico City office of...more
The Insanity is Over: ‘Navigable’ Now Means ‘Navigable’ Again - "The Trump administration has now announced that the intentionally ambiguous and easily abused Waters of the United States Rule has been replaced by the new,...more
On Monday, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality issued determinations with respect to six Duke Energy coal plants, requiring that Duke close coal combustion residual surface impoundments at the plants by...more
The U.S. is Set to Become the World's Biggest Oil Exporter Thanks to the Fracking Revolution - "The U.S. shale revolution has made it to one of the world's largest energy producers and potentially the largest oil exporter...more
Impact of U.S. Court Ruling on Keystone XL Timing Unclear: TransCanada - "TransCanada Corp is reviewing a decision by a Montana judge blocking construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, but the impact on project timing...more
EPA to Restrict Scientific Advisers Who Get Agency Grants - "Pruitt did not say how restrictive the policy would be. But it has the potential to greatly reduce the body of expert scientists who could serve on the boards...more
On June 15, 2015, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a...more