The Continuing Impact of Coal Ash - Energy Law Insights
Volume 9, Issue 7 Welcome to our seventh issue of Currents 2025. In this issue, we look at the changing tides for coal, the new NEPA procedures, West Virginians desire for lower cost energy, southwestern Virginia's newest...more
In early April, President Trump issued several energy-related presidential actions aimed at reviving the coal industry. These actions could boost the domestic coal industry, including by rolling back environmental regulations...more
New Executive Orders and Proclamation - On April 8, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued three significant executive orders (“EOs”) and a fourth proclamation consistent with his pledge to “Unleash American Energy.” These...more
On April 25, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed four final rules representing multi-media regulation (air, water, waste, climate) for the utility sector. Individually, each rule would have been notable for...more
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
The explosion and fire of a tanker truck just north of Center City Philadelphia, leading to the collapse of sections of Interstate 95, one of the most heavily traveled roads in the United States and the chief highway...more
The United States Energy Information Administration published a January 19th report titled: Increasing Renewables Likely to Reduce Coal and Natural Gas Generation Over Next Two Years (“Report”)...more
Real-time pricing, new rates, and enabling technologies target demand flexibility to ease California outages Bullet Utility Dive – September 13 Growing California power system reliability threats made vivid by early September...more
Coal Producer Plans to Create 181 New Jobs in Southwest Virginia Mine Complex - "Coronado Global Resources Inc., an international coal company, is committing $169.1 million toward the effort to increase capacity at its...more
Ukraine Demands Germany Cut or Halt Nord Stream 1 Gas Flows - "Ukraine is willing and able to provide an alternate transport route to the pipeline, which runs under the Baltic, he said." Why this is important: The...more
Global Coal Prices Surge as Ukraine Tensions Worsen Supply Woes - "Europe relies on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas, and has been grappling with a gas shortage since last summer that sent local prices to record...more
Coal Power to Increase for First Time Since 2014, US Says - "The amount of electricity produced by coal plants is expected to tick up 22% in 2021, reversing coal’s six-year downward trend." Why this is important: For...more
How a Colorado Coal Plant Could Become a Massive Battery for Renewable Energy - "If the idea works, it could be a case study for other communities trying to preserve jobs and property taxes as the world shifts to cleaner...more
In a first, U.S. declares shortage on Colorado River, forcing water cuts - The New York Times – August 16 - With climate change and long-term drought continuing to take a toll on the Colorado River, the federal Bureau of...more
Appeals Court Rules Louisiana Oil-and-Gas Lawsuits Must be Heard in Federal Court - "The state and six coastal parishes have filed 42 lawsuits against 200 fossil fuel companies since 2013 over coastal erosion and wetland...more
Why the American Jobs Plan Would Benefit Coal-Heavy Utility Stocks - "A close look at some of the utilities publicly supporting a federal CES, which would require utilities to increase their share of carbon-free energy...more
Steel is essential to every aspect of modern life, yet its future finds itself centre stage in the climate change debate. Can advances in green steel technologies, fuelled by innovative investments from miners and steel...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 22 of Currents. With this issue, we will begin publishing on a bi-weekly schedule. We believe publishing every two weeks will give us a better opportunity to focus on hot topics affecting our...more
A Bad Day for Big Oil - "ExxonMobil, Chevron lose key shareholder votes and Dutch court orders Shell to cut emissions faster." Why this is important: Issues related to climate change embroiled three oil companies this...more
Clearway Energy Acquires 264-MW Wind Farm in West Virginia - "Located in Grant County, Mt Storm was put on stream back in 2008 and is feeding electricity into the PJM market." Why this is important: Clearway Energy...more
WV Legislature Adopts Compromise Amendment to Natural Gas Property Tax Bill - "HB 2581 would provide a revised methodology to value oil and natural gas properties by the State Tax Commissioner in response to a West...more
U.S. Congress Launches Probe Into Multibillion-Dollar 'Clean Coal' Tax Credit - "The U.S. Congress is investigating a multibillion-dollar subsidy for chemically treated coal that is meant to reduce smokestack pollution,...more
Welcome to Volume 5, Issue 8 of Currents. Recently, my colleagues Joseph Schaeffer and Risa Katz-Albert recorded a webinar - Data Privacy and Security 101: Six Questions to Ask Yourself. They discuss basic introductory data...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Floats Natural Gas Tax to Pay for $3 Billion Pandemic Recovery Plan - "Long a proponent of an extraction tax, Wolf said it could pay for improvements to workforce training and support, remove...more
Why the U.S. isn't in Desperate Need of the Keystone XL Pipeline - "U.S. President Joe Biden fulfilled a campaign promise by scuttling the 1,897-kilometre pipeline." Why this is important: While the rescission of the...more