There are several items at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that should be on employers’ radars in 2024.
1. New injury reporting rules for certain industries take effect in January 2024, requiring more...more
Attacks on Non-Disclosure, Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreements in 2023 -
On several fronts in 2023, we saw federal agencies and entities attacking the scope and enforceability of certain employment agreements,...more
12/21/2023
/ Confidentiality Agreements ,
Employee Rights ,
Employees ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Employment Litigation ,
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ,
Groff v DeJoy ,
Harassment ,
Joint Employers ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
NLRB ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
OSHA ,
Pregnancy ,
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Religious Accommodation ,
SCOTUS ,
State Labor Laws ,
Title VII
NY Governor's Veto of Wind Power Bill “Undermines Industry," Critics Say-
“The bill known as the ‘Planned Offshore Wind Transmission Act’ has been working its way through the state legislature since April 2023.”
Why...more
12/6/2023
/ Building Codes ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Litigation ,
Construction Project ,
Contractors ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licensing Rules ,
Mechanics Lien ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Solar Farm ,
State and Local Government ,
Technology Sector ,
Unions
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
11/17/2023
/ Alaska ,
Arctic Drilling ,
Biden Administration ,
Bill Gates ,
China ,
Class Action ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Oil & Gas ,
Power Plants ,
RGGI ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Wind Power
Lien on Me – Florida Edition 2023 -
Florida’s Construction Lien Law, F.S. 713.001 et seq., was recently amended and includes important changes effective October 1, 2023, about which contractors should know. The following is...more
10/27/2023
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Building Standards ,
Climate Change ,
Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Liens ,
Construction Project ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
General Contractors ,
Inspections ,
Liens ,
OSHA ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Rural Areas ,
Subcontractors ,
Workplace Safety
Chevron Doctrine -
The Chevron Doctrine -- what is often referred to as “Chevron deference” – is based on the precedent set by the Supreme Court about four decades ago, which some argue has overly empowered the...more
10/19/2023
/ Batteries ,
Beneficial Owner ,
Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Charging Stations ,
Chevron Deference ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Coal ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Energy Sector ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
OSHA ,
Reporting Requirements
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a number of new rules that all employers need to track and to be prepared to respond. Here is an update on four significant topics making their way through...more
New Business Reporting Obligations for Employers: Beneficial Ownership Information Under the Corporate Transparency Act -
Effective January 1, 2024, most legal entities incorporated, organized, or registered to do business...more
10/3/2023
/ Beneficial Owner ,
Business Entities ,
Corporate Transparency Act ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Intentional Torts ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
NLRA ,
NLRB ,
OSHA ,
Over-Time ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Workplace Safety
What is the Hydrogen Hubbub?
Hydrogen is seen by many as the fuel of the future, a substance that can provide heat through combustion, or electrical power from fuel cells, emitting only water in the process. Its potential...more
8/17/2023
/ China ,
Clean Energy ,
Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
FERC ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
Nuclear Power ,
Power Plants ,
Steel Industry ,
Transmission Grid
Domestic Nuclear Power Advancement: Barriers to Entry and the Need for a National Strategy -
As previously reported on this site, nuclear generation development has taken hold as a potential promise for a long-term,...more
7/20/2023
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Clean Energy ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Italy ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Natural Gas ,
Norway ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
Balancing Reliability, Affordability, and Renewability in the Energy Transition -
Throughout the United States and globally there is an undisputed trend towards renewable energy as much of the world seeks to decarbonize in...more
An Uncertain Future for Nuclear Generation -
As countries and companies around the world set goals for renewable energy targets, there is constant uncertainty as to the best path for reaching these goals. While wind and...more
5/11/2023
/ Carbon Capture and Sequestration ,
Chevron Deference ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Green Energy ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Natural Gas ,
NOAA ,
Real Estate Development ,
Renewable Energy
The Cost of "Electrification"
“Electrification” has become a ubiquitous term these days, although depending on who you ask, it might have different meanings. However defined, a critical component of electrification as a...more
4/25/2023
/ Biomass ,
Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Coal-Fired Plants ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Electricity ,
Energy Sector ,
Exports ,
Fossil Fuel ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Low-Income Issues ,
Natural Gas ,
North Carolina ,
Nuclear Power ,
Plant Closures ,
Power Grid ,
Power Plants ,
Price Transparency ,
Renewable Energy ,
Renewable Fuel ,
Russia ,
Small Business ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
Texas ,
Ukraine ,
Utilities Sector ,
Virginia ,
Washington ,
Wind Power
Biden Races to Meet 2035 Climate Goal -
“He didn’t provide new details of how the U.S. electric grid could be carbon-free by 2035, a top goal for the administration.”
Why this is important: The Biden administration...more
3/10/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Carbon Emissions ,
China ,
Electricity ,
Energy Commissions ,
Energy Sector ,
Natural Gas ,
New Legislation ,
Power Grid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy
GOP Attorneys General Sue Labor Department Over ESG Rule -
“GOP senators, joined by Manchin, oppose the new rule, which gives asset managers more freedom.”
Why this is important: The article describes reaction to...more
2/10/2023
/ Australia ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Coal ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Energy Sector ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
EU ,
Fossil Fuel ,
India ,
North Carolina ,
Offshore Wind ,
Russia ,
Trade Restrictions ,
Virginia
● Offshore Oil and Gas at Risk of Potentially Catastrophic Cyberattack: GAO -
“The industry includes about 1,600 offshore oil and gas facilities that are highly dependent on remotely connected operational technology, the...more
12/5/2022
/ Clean Energy ,
Coal Industry ,
Cyber Attacks ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
FERC ,
Infrastructure ,
Labor Relations ,
Offshore Drilling ,
Oil & Gas ,
Pipelines ,
Popular ,
Power Grid ,
Railways ,
Solar Energy ,
Strike ,
Wind Power
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
WVU Study Shows American Coal Industry Generates $261 Billion in Economic Activity, 381,000 Jobs -
“The study, conducted by the West Virginia University Bureau for Business and Economics Research, shows that the...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
9/7/2022
/ Climate Change ,
Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
Report Claims ESG-focused US Shale Producers Perform Better Over Time -
“'It is clear that ESG performance impacts investor appetite, even though ESG scores have not been the lead indicator of stock growth during the...more
The Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling is a Big Setback for Fighting Climate Change, but Not a Death Knell
"The ruling opens the door to more litigation, however, which could help the fossil fuel industry delay moves to...more
7/11/2022
/ Clean Air Act ,
Clean Power Plan ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
FERC ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Oil & Gas ,
SCOTUS ,
West Virginia v EPA
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
Cap and Trade Gets a Big Win in Pennsylvania. Will It Last?
"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) announced that his administration had finalized a regulation to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade...more
Shell’s Board of Directors Sued for ‘Failing to Properly Prepare’ for the Energy Transition -
"It argues the board’s failure to implement a climate strategy that truly aligns with the landmark Paris Agreement is a breach...more
4/8/2022
/ Coal Industry ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Petroleum ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
Sen. Manchin Slams ‘Hypocritical’ Biden for Not Curbing Russian Energy Imports Over Ukraine Invasion -
"Mr. Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, said that the administration needs to curtail its reliance on Russian petroleum...more