Energy & Utilities Law, Zoning, Planning & Land Use, Agriculture

Growing Michigan - Fourth Quarter 2012

by Kimberly A. Clarke, Kristiana M. Coutu, Matthew B. Eugster, Bruce Goodman, Steve Kluting, Aaron M. Phelps, Dean F. Reisner, Peter G. Roth | Varnum LLP on 12/29/2012

In This Issue: - MISS Dig Bills Pass in Michigan Senate, Stall in House - Farm Bill Still Stalled - Ag Groups Urge Action on Estate Taxes - SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Now Available in Michigan - Michigan...more

MISS Dig Bills Pass In Michigan Senate, Stall In House

by Aaron M. Phelps | Varnum LLP on 12/21/2012

Legislation creating a new MISS Dig law passed the Michigan Senate on November 29 in a 26-12 vote, but failed to make it through the House before the 2012 Legislative Session closed on December 13. Supporters plan to...more

State Water Resources Control Board Issues Draft Order Staying Provisions of Central Coast Agricultural Order

by Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard on 9/13/2012

On September 10, 2012, the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Board”) issued a Draft Order which, if adopted, will stay certain provisions of the agricultural order and related monitoring and reporting program orders...more

State Water Resources Control Board Decides To Stay Provisions Of Central Coast Agricultural Order

by Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard on 9/6/2012

Following its August 30, 2012 hearing, the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Board”) decided to stay or extend the compliance deadline for some provisions of the agricultural order and related monitoring and...more

Seventh Circuit affirms exclusion of unreliable expert testimony on valuation in condemnation actions

by Saul Ewing LLP on 8/28/2012

On August 21, 2012, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion affirming the decision of the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois to exclude the testimony of the landowners' expert in...more

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Issues Final Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines for Wildlife Protection

by Parker Moore on 4/26/2012

On March 23, 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its “Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines.” The new voluntary Guidelines provide a tiered, scientific process for addressing potential wildlife impacts...more

NSW Government releases Draft Strategic Regional Land Use Plans

by Baker & McKenzie Australia on 3/21/2012

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has released Draft Strategic Regional Land Use Plans (the Draft Land Use Plans) for the New England North West and the Upper Hunter in NSW (Affected Regions). The Draft Land Use...more

A Brief Guide to Special Purpose Port in Indonesia

by Dinesh Kumar Jap on 1/1/2012

Special Purpose Port in Indonesia is specifically intended for supporting the main business of a company in the mining, industry, plantation, or fishery sector, and is restricted to be used for public purposes without consent...more

SB 618 Provides Limited Williamson Act Relief for Solar Developers

by Farella Braun + Martel LLP on 11/1/2011

Just signed by Governor Brown, SB 618 (Wolk) creates, for the first time, an explicit mechanism for landowners and solar developers to remove non-prime agricultural land from existing Williamson Act contracts in order to use...more

Renewables Update May 2011

by Caroline Buchan on 1/5/2011

PLANNING SCOTLAND'S RENEWABLE FUTURE With the SNP winning a historic 69 seats, we take a look at what the re-elected Scottish Government will need to do to the planning system if their ambitious renewables targets are to be...more

Trouble on the Range or a Green Opportunity? How the State's Budget Woes are Creating Both Challenges and Opportunities For...

by Miller Starr Regalia on 6/1/2010

While there are signs that the greater economy may be turning a corner, the State of California continues to struggle with its finances in the wake of the economic downturn. Indeed, despite all the political wrangling and...more