Oil and Gas Regulation: PA General Assembly Passes Well Plugging Bill 
On July 7, 2022, the Pennsylvania Senate and House both passed HB 2644. The bill would establish and allocate funds to the Orphan Well Plugging Grant Program (Program). Funding through this program would be used to receive and approve applications, provide civil liability for
EPA Power Plant Ruling Could Have Broader Effects for Industry
Below is an excerpt of an article co-authored with Jon Schaefer and published in Industry Week on July 8, 2022. Jon focuses his practice on environmental compliance counseling, occupational health and safety, permitting, site remediation, and litigation related to federal and state regulatory programs.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision that the Environmental
Emerging EU ESG Requirements: Transatlantic Implications for Multinational Companies
We have written extensively on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposal to require that public companies disclose climate-related information and other environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) trends. However, the European Union (EU) is at the vanguard of emerging requirements focused on climate-related information and broader ESG-aligned information.
Maryland’s New Corporate Diversity Law Violates the Equal Protection Clause
The new corporate diversity law as proposed to be implemented through the regulations, does Not benefit businesses and does Not benefit “unrepresented communities”
BRAZILIAN SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZES THE PARIS AGREEMENT AS A HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY
On 1 July 2022, the Brazilian Supreme Court issued a ruling on ADPF 708 (Ação de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental), which is another climate litigation case under the court’s scrutiny (please read here and here for more information about other climate litigation cases submitted to the Brazilian Supreme Court). In summary, political parties filed ADPF
California Expands State Agency Authority to Spur Clean Energy and Bolster Grid Reliability
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.
By Marc Campopiano, Nikki Buffa, Michael Navarrete-Carroll, Josh Bledsoe, and Kevin Homrighausen
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom
How fossil fuel companies are adopting carbon-neutrality during green transition
Can carbon-neutral fossil fuels can gain credibility and scale up through voluntary efforts, or will market adoption have to be compelled through mandatory regulation?
Key takeaways1. Fossil fuel producers are looking for interim solutions during the green energy transition2. Use of the carbon-neutral label is susceptible to being seen as ‘greenwashing’3. A global regulatory regime
Renewable Energy in Latin America Updates – July 2022
This GT Alert highlights news and updates on renewable energy in Latin America.
(The First Half of) a Week is a Long Time in the World of ESG – ESMA publish on ESG Ratings, new ICMA resources for the sustainable bond market and FCA views on ESG in the capital markets
A lot can happen in ESG in three days. By Wednesday last week, there were three important developments in the world of ESG and sustainable finance from the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”), the International Capital Markets Association (“ICMA”) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). Read more about these developments, which relate to
Supreme Court Decision in West Virginia v. EPA Casts Doubt on SEC’s Climate Proposal and Other Regulatory Initiatives
On June 30, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided West Virginia et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, holding that the EPA lacks authority under Section 7411(d) of the Clean Air Act to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants through “generation shifting,” i.e., increasing the use of cleaner energy sources like wind and solar and