Environmental Law, Election & Politics Law, Commercial Law & Contracts

Watt’s New? Michigan Energy News - November 2012

by Varnum LLP on 11/28/2012

In This Issue: - Proposal 3 Rejected by Voters - Patriot Solar Development Efforts Shine - Reducing Total Lifetime System Costs for Solar Panels - Sierra Club Ready to Sue on Alleged Air Quality Violations -...more

California Voters Approve Tax Methodology Change to Benefit Energy Projects

by Jon Costantino, Fred L. Main | Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP on 11/15/2012

On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, California voters approved Proposition 39-THE CALIFORNIA CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT. Proposition 39 changes the way taxes are assessed for companies with multistate operations. This change is...more

Initiative to Label Genetically Modified Foods Fails in California

by Morrison & Foerster LLP on 11/7/2012

Yesterday, California voters rejected Proposition 37, the Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act by 53 percent to 47 percent. The voter initiative would have required labeling of most foods with genetically...more

Do I Detect a Pattern? Congressional Inaction on TSCA Leads to Scattershot State Regulation

by Foley Hoag LLP - Environmental Law on 6/13/2012

Yogi Berra is credited with the phrase “déjà vu all over again.” Today’s environmental law manifestation of Yogi’s phenomenon stems from the current gridlock in Congress. A story last week in the Daily Environment Report...more

Environmental Crime Risks

by Michael Volkov on 6/1/2012

Chief compliance officers have enough on their plate without having to worry about another risk. The Obama Administration came into power promising to increase enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. On the civil...more

Electric Vehicles & Competition Law

by Carsten Reimann on 4/20/2012

Assessments of electriv vehivles (EVs) in new European competition law framework (excerpt from a book by Professor Bellis)...more

Obtaining Stimulus Funds Comes With "Green" Strings Attached

by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP on 3/11/2010

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The Act is an extraordinary response to the slowdown plaguing the United States economy. Among the ARRA's goals are...more

A Brief Overview Of The Recent Amendments To CEQA GUIDELINES

by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 2/18/2010

On December 29, 2009, the California Natural Resources Agency ("Resources Agency") adopted amendments to the guidelines implementing the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The amendments were filed with the...more

California Unveils Preliminary Draft Regulation For A Cap-And-Trade Program As One Of The Main Strategies To Reduce Greenhouse Gas...

by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 12/21/2009

On November 24, 2009, the California Air Resources Board unveiled its proposed draft regulation for a greenhouse gas ("GHG") cap-and-trade program in its effort to put California on the path to achieve the mandate imposed by...more

Transfer of Development Rights Help On the Way

by Sands Anderson PC on 11/17/2009

For many years, localities were without authority to adopt a TDR ordinance. The Attorney General made clear that while a TDR program might be constitutional, a statute would have to be adopted to authorize a locality to adopt...more

Want to Sell to Federal Agencies? New Executive Order May Provide New Opportunities for Manufacturers & Suppliers

by Miller & Martin PLLC on 10/30/2009

We suggest you read President Obama’s recently issued Executive Order prioritizing the federal government’s role in leading the country toward sustainability. Executive Order 13154, titled “Federal Leadership in...more

California Governor Signs S.B. 827 into Law; South Coast Air Quality Management District Now Permitted to Continue Emissions...

by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 10/14/2009

In 2008, a superior court judge placed a moratorium on certain aspects of the emissions trading program administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District ("District"), instructing the District to complete an...more

Renewable Energy Update - June 23, 2009

by Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 6/23/2009

IN THIS ISSUE: *U.S. House of Representatives Expected to Vote on Climate Bill Soon *Renewable Energy Focus ..Renewable Power Costs on the Rise in California *Officials Vow Support for Renewable Energy in West *Iowa...more

Cap-and-Trade Bill in Congress Quickly Gaining Momentum

by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP on 5/19/2009

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce is marking up “The American Clean Energy and Security Act” (H.R. 2454), introduced by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). The...more