December, 2020

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In Boost for Renewables, Grid-Scale Battery Storage Is on the Rise

Yale E360

Driven by technological advances, facilities are being built with storage systems that can hold enough renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands of homes. The advent of “big battery” technology addresses a key challenge for green energy — the intermittency of wind and solar. Read more on E360 ?.

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The First French Climate Litigation Ruling - Commune de Grande Synthe

Energy and Climate Law

By Dr Romain Mauger, Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability (GCELS) On 19 November 2020, the Conseil d’Etat (the French supreme administrative court) issued a historic ruling in the Commune de Grande Synthe case , potentially the first step towards a landmark climate litigation outcome in France. This ruling was released in the context of a surge in climate litigation cases in France and all over world.

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Will the Rise of Work from Home Lower Uber's Medium Term Profits?

Environmental and Urban Economics

Post-pandemic many educated people will be working from home 3 days a week. Some of these people will choose to live further from city centers. How will such "sprawl" and reduced work trips affect the profitability of ride sharing companies? For urban economists to be useful here, we need to make some progress on a few core questions. Does Uber make more money on short urban trips versus picking people up in the far flung suburbs?

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Tension between public health and environmental protection

Environment, Law, and History

The latest issue of the Journal of Environmental Law has an interesting piece by Ben Pontin, "The Constitutive Tension Between Public Health and Environmental Protection—An Historical Perspective" Pontin writes (footnotes omitted): According to David Hughes, the author of an early formative textbook, environmental law has ‘public health origins’.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Sustainability Leadership and Lollipop Moments

Eco Coach

You may be wondering - How can I I get others in my organization to take action? How can I change their perspective about sustainability? How can I get them to help me with my going green project’? There are many ways to answer this question, and one that I will briefly touch upon here is ‘by being a leader’. You may not feel as though you are in charge or can get others to take action, but the truth is, you can be a leader every day, at work and outside of work.

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Electric Vehicles Combat Climate Change

Global Green

CHRIS JOHNSTON DECEMBER 2, 2020. Chris Johnston is co-author of The Arrival of the Electric Car – An Overview of the EV Revolution Happening Now. The fastest way to shift the transportation sector to environmental sustainability is to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles (EVs). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is from transportation.

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Big opportunity to make a difference!

Environmental Progress

I’m happy to announce exciting news: an anonymous donor has offered to double all donations made to Environmental Progress — up to $100,000! There's just one catch: all donations must be received before midnight on December 31! Can you help? Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation It's been quite a year: - Apocalypse Never became one of the most critically-acclaimed and best-selling books on the environment of all time!

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Some Research Notes on Using Geo-Tagged Cell Phone Data to Study Urban Economics Questions

Environmental and Urban Economics

Several excellent urban economics research teams have access to U.S geocoded cell phone data. Since I am not part of any of these teams, I will use this blog post to offer them some unsolicited advice. For some examples of these teams; skim this and this. Geotagged data provide researchers with a spatial and temporal high frequency database to know where each person spends her day.

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Power plant odors may be more than nuisance

Stack Environment

If you are like many in Georgia, you understand the pros and cons of having enormous power plants in your neighborhood. The plants keep taxes low, provide jobs for local families and often contribute to the protection of the environment by developing state-of-the-art controls for waste disposal and emissions. However, those environmental protections do not always come through, especially if the energy company finds a cheaper way to manufacture fuel.

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The COVID-19 Pandemic Throws Oil and Coal Industries in a Tailspin

Edouard Stenger

(This post was published earlier this year on Medium. Sorry for the lack of content this year. Hopefully, 2021 will bring more exciting stories and analysis…). The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought our global economy to a standstill, with fears of the worst recession since 1929. Over 26 millions have already lost their jobs in the United States.

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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2020: The Year in Reverse

JANZEN AG

Each year at this time I like to reflect on what the big events were over the last twelve months. Here are the news articles and stories getting the most interest on the Janzen Ag Tech Blog in 2020. Covid-19. There is no summary of 2020 that does not include the Covid-19 pandemic. Our office, like many, was closed for much of the late spring and early summer as we shifted to working from home.

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How Non-Native Plants Are Contributing to a Global Insect Decline

Yale E360

The impact of introduced plants on native biodiversity has emerged as a hot-button issue in ecology. But recent research provides new evidence that the displacement of native plant communities is a key cause of a collapse in insect populations and is affecting birds as well. Read more on E360 ?.

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Climate change and the US Clean Air Act

Environment, Law, and History

President Nixon signs the Clean Air Act of 1970 Richard Revesz recently posted a piece on climate change regulation, " Bostock and the End of the Climate Change Double Standard" , forthcoming in the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law. The abstract explains that the article "performs a deep dive into the legislative materials surrounding the enactment of the Clean Air Act of 1970.

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The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 2)

Environmental Law Centre

The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 2) PART TWO: IS THE ACT CONSTITUTIONAL? This is the second in a pair of blog posts. The post The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 2) appeared first on Environmental Law Centre.

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Implementing D.E.J.I. Strategies in Energy, Environment, and Transportation

Speaker: Antoine M. Thompson, Executive Director of the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition

Diversity, Equity, Justice, and Inclusion (DEJI) policies, programs, and initiatives are critically important as we move forward with public and private sector climate and sustainability goals and plans. Underserved and socially, economically, and racially disadvantaged communities bear the burden of pollution, higher energy costs, limited resources, and limited investments in the clean energy and transportation sectors.

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Searching for stardust: How to find micrometeorites in your gutters

New Scientist

Space dust is constantly falling to Earth, sprinkling rooftops with beautiful particles unchanged since the birth of the solar system.

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EPA Publishes Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of PFAS

Environment Next

On December 18, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Materials Containing Perfluoroalkyl and. Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The Interim Guidance is not a rule or statement of policy, but presents currently available information on PFAS destruction and disposal, as well as highlights the significant uncertainties and critical need for research and develop

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Minnesota drives forward with EV rules

Renewable + Law

On December 21, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) set forth its plans to amend the state’s clean air rules to adopt Low-Emission Vehicles (LEV) and Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) standards, known as the Clean Cars Minnesota rule. As described in MPCA’s Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules with a Hearing , the LEV standard would require automobile manufacturers to deliver for sale in Minnesota only those vehicles that can meet California’s more stringent greenhouse gas and other air polluta

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Agriculture Will Threaten Habitat for 90 Percent of Animal Species by 2050

Yale E360

Scientists estimate that if current food production methods continue, the world will likely need between 770,000 to 3.9 million square miles of new agricultural land by 2050 to feed the planet’s growing, wealthier population. Such agricultural expansion could destroy some of the habitat of almost 90 percent of terrestrial animal species, a new study has found , leading to a widespread biodiversity crisis.

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Shaping a Resilient Future: Climate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

Speaker: Laurie Schoeman Director, Climate & Sustainability, Capital

As households and communities across the nation face challenges such as hurricanes, wildfires, drought, extreme heat and cold, and thawing permafrost and flooding, we are increasingly searching for ways to mitigate and prevent climate impacts. During this event, national climate and housing expert Laurie Schoeman will discuss topics including: The two paths for climate action: decarbonization and adaptation.

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Supreme Court of Ohio Addresses Due Diligence Under the Dormant Mineral Act

Vorys Law

On December 17, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio addressed the surface owner’s due diligence obligations under the 2006 version of the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act. See Gerrity v. Chervenak , Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-6705. Read more about that decision in our Client Alert.

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The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 1)

Environmental Law Centre

The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 1) INTRODUCTION The carbon tax has become one of the most controversial issues in Canadian politics of. The post The Carbon Tax Reference: A Primer (Part 1) appeared first on Environmental Law Centre.

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Volcanoes

New Scientist

A volcano is essentially a gap in Earth’s crust where the surface is connected to chambers of liquid rock below.

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Power plant odors may be more than nuisance

Stack Environment

If you are like many in Georgia, you understand the pros and cons of having enormous power plants in your neighborhood. The plants keep taxes low, provide jobs for local families and often contribute to the protection of the environment by developing state-of-the-art controls for waste disposal and emissions. However, those environmental protections do not always come through, especially if the energy company finds a cheaper way to manufacture fuel.

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Sustainability at Retail

Sustainability impacts every nation, company, and person around the world. So much so that, in 2015, the United Nations (UN) issued a call for action by all countries to work toward sustainable development. In response to this and as part of a global Sustainability at Retail initiative, Shop! worked collaboratively with its global affiliates to address these critical issues in this white paper.

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ATF Discusses Their History and Mission

Justice Podcast

Acting Director for ATF Regina Lombardo speaks with Tom Chittum, Assistant Director of Field Operations for ATF, about the bureau’s history, the role ATF plays in not only law enforcement, but also regulation and how technology has changed the way ATF completes their mission. Acting Director for ATF Regina Lombardo speaks with Tom Chittum, Assistant Director of Field Operations for ATF, about the bureau’s history, the role ATF plays in not only law enforcement, but also regulation and how techno

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Filthy Water: A Basic Sanitation Problem Persists in Rural America

Yale E360

Residents of Alabama’s Lowndes County lack adequate wastewater systems and must contend with sewage backing up into their yards and homes. Environmental activist Catherine Coleman Flowers says this problem affects many low-income, rural parts of the U.S. and can no longer be ignored. Read more on E360 ?.

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Supreme Court of Ohio Rules on Applicability of Ohio Marketable Title Act to Severed Mineral Interests

Vorys Law

On December 2, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ohio held that the Ohio Marketable Title Act applies to severed mineral interests despite the enactment of the Ohio Dormant Mineral Act. See West v. Bode , 2020-Ohio-5473. Read more about that decision in our Client Alert.

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Ohio’s Transformational Mixed-Use Development Tax Credit Nears Passage

Ohio Environmental Law

After taking three years to wind its way through the Ohio General Assembly, Senate Bill 39 may pass out of the Legislature by the end of the year. The Bill would create a “Transformational Mixed-Use Development” (TMUD) tax credit. The TMUD tax credit provides a 10% tax credit for documented development costs. If the project is certified as eligible, the property owner can sell or transfer the rights to the tax credits to insurances companies.

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IWIC 2020 – Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology Prize Winners

Water Research & Technology

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology was delighted to sponsor prizes at the 6th International Water Industry Conference 2020 , which took place both online and in Daegu, Korea from the 22 nd – 23 rd September 2020. A 5-minute pitch contest was held, which was attended both virtually and in person. The winners of this contest were: Syed Salman Ali Shah (Kyungpook National University), for their pitch: “Quorum quenching membrane bioreactors: Effects of solids retention time an

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The surprising truth about why adults make children believe in Santa

New Scientist

Children are savvier than we thought, so why do so many of them believe in Father Christmas?

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SEASONS GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MANNING ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Manning Law

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Rising Temperatures Driving a Shift to All-Female Sea Turtle Populations

Yale E360

Whether marine turtles are born male or female is dependent on the temperature of their nest during incubation. As global temperatures rise, scientists have found that the sand around the Red Sea is now warm enough to cause hatchlings in the area to be born almost entirely female , threatening the future survival of the region’s sea turtle population.

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Supreme Court of Ohio Construe’s State’s Saltwater Injection Well Permitting Scheme

Vorys Law

In a recent mandamus action, the Supreme Court of Ohio had the opportunity to construe Ohio’s saltwater injection well permitting scheme. See State ex rel. Omni Energy Group, L.L.C. v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Div. of Oil & Gas Resources Mgt., Slip Opinion No. 2020-Ohio-5581. In Omni , the Court discussed whether (1) the Division of Oil & Gas Resources Management had the right to call a public meeting concerning Omni’s permit application, (2) Omni had a right to compe

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The Economics of Personal Responsibility and Human Development

Environmental and Urban Economics

Congratulations to Nick Kristof of the New York Times. I am really impressed with this discussion between him and Carol in Berkeley. My mother's name is Carol and she has been to Berkeley and I'm wondering if my mom wrote the following response; Here is the NY Times Source and my remarks appear below. By all means, let’s talk about “personal responsibility”’ — Nicholas Kristof Carol in Berkeley, Calif., on “ Who Killed the Knapp Family?

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