October, 2020

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The Energy Transition in the Built Environment – Towards Positive Energy Districts

Energy and Climate Law

By Ceciel Nieuwenhout, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability; Lead Author of WP 1 T1.2 Report to the H2020 POCITYF-project A substantial part of energy in the EU is consumed by households , for powering electric appliances and for heating and cooling. This presents an opportunity to reduce the consumption of (fossil) energy, with the built environment becoming a key-sector in the energy transition.

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Pandemics: Legal history and anthropology

Environment, Law, and History

Trionfo della morte (1446) (Galleria Regionale di Palazzo Abbatellis) This coming November 6 the Centre d'Histoire et d'Anthropologie du Droit at Université Paris Nanterre will host (online) what looks to be a very interesting program on the legal history and anthropology of pandemics: "Les crises pandémiques à travers les âges. Approche historique, juridique et anthropologique".

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Education Plus Action Equals Healthy Children!

EPA

By Alexandra Dapolito Dunn , Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention; and. Scott Mason , Director for the American Indian Environmental Office. In celebration of Children’s Health Month, we are excited to kick off this year’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by showcasing Lead Awareness in Indian Country: Keeping our Children Healthy!

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How the Ag Data Landscape Has Changed in Five Years

JANZEN AG

I feel like it was about five years ago when the gates were opened to the ag data land rush. Small ag-tech companies and multinational legacy companies all entered the ag data space, each rushing to grab as many acres or customers as possible. As we near the end of 2020, I thought it would be worth reflecting on how ag data has changed during this five-year period.

2015 59
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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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NYC Issues Proposed Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loan Regulations

SPR Law

In late October 2020, the New York City Department of Finance issued proposed regulations to implement a Property Assessed Clean Energy (“PACE”) loan program in NYC to provide targeted loans with favorable terms to building owners for installation of systems designed to reduce energy use and carbon emissions. The deadline to submit comments on the… The post NYC Issues Proposed Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loan Regulations appeared first on Sive Paget Riesel.

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Floating Foundations: The Future of Offshore Wind

The Energy Law Blog

With recent increased investments in wind power, the development of floating offshore wind farms presents the potential to access areas previously unavailable. On floating offshore wind farms, a wind turbine is attached to a floating structure which is tethered to the sea floor, as opposed to the turbine being a fixed foundation in the sea. This allows the wind turbines to operate in deeper waters. [1] There are four main floating foundation designs leading the market today.

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Early American history and modern American environmental law

Environment, Law, and History

A recurring theme in scholarship on environmental regulation is the roots of the American approach to environmental regulation , and to what extent this approach is exceptional. April's issue of Studies in American Political Development has an article in this vein by David Brian Robertson, "Leader to Laggard: How Founding Institutions Have Shaped American Environmental Policy".

Law 98
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The Criminal Division Discusses Combating the Opioid Crisis

Justice Podcast

Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Brian Rabbitt speaks with Matt Lloyd, Principal Deputy Director of Public Affairs, about how the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division is working to combat the opioid epidemic. Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Brian Rabbitt speaks with Matt Lloyd, Principal Deputy Director of Public Affairs, about how the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division is working to combat the opioid epidemic.

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Will the Heat Networks Bill warm up the District Heating Sector in Scotland ?

Climate Change Blawg

The carbon emissions from heating domestic homes account for around 13% of the UK’s annual carbon emissions. The carbon emissions from heating homes is comparable to the contribution of all petrol and diesel cars in the UK. After declaring a climate emergency in 2019 the Scottish Government set out ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions […].

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Can the government just take my land?

Stack Environment

Your Georgia home and property are undoubtedly a source of pride for you. Even if you don’t spend as much time as you would like to make it look like a magazine cover, just having ownership is a success, whether you inherited it from family or bought it with your hard-earned money. Owning property is an achievement, and you probably can’t imagine someone coming along and taking it from you.

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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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Advancement of CCS in Louisiana

The Energy Law Blog

Earlier this month, Gulf Coast Sequestration (“GCS”), a limited liability company based in Lake Charles, announced its plans to build and operate a carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) project that will create a repository 10,000 feet underground for the permanent storage of more than 80 million tons of carbon. Once completed, the GCS facility is expected to be the largest CCS project in the United States and one of the largest in the world, according to its press release.

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LIBOR Transition Will Begin to Accelerate as 2021 Approaches

Renewable + Law

Over the course of the next several months, participants that are actively engaged in project financing will need to begin thinking about how to manage the transition away from the London interbank offer rate (LIBOR, known as the “most important number in finance”). LIBOR forms the basis for many financing agreements. LIBOR is scheduled to be phased out by market regulators on December 31, 2021, and many large banks and investment managers have been busy preparing for this fundamental shift.

2021 40
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Join EPA in Observing Children’s Health Month

EPA

By Jeanne Briskin. Director of the Office of Children’s Health Protection. October is Children’s Health Month, a good reminder that children are often more vulnerable to pollutants than adults due to their differences in behavior and biology, which can lead to greater exposure and unique windows of susceptibility during development. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Children’s Health Protection (OCHP) leads the agency’s work regarding children’s environmental health and

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Latest HOT, Review and Open Access content from ESWRT

Water Research & Technology

We are delighted to share with you a hand-picked selection of papers recently published in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology ( ESWRT ). HOT papers – as recommended by our referees. Low-cost desalination of seawater and hypersaline brine using nanophotonics enhanced solar energy membrane distillation. Ibrahim A. Said et al. Landfill leachate contributes per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and pharmaceuticals to municipal wastewater.

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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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Top 100 Legal Blogs on Environmental Law

Climate Change Blawg

Feedspot are putting together a list of their top 100 environmental law blogs here. We’re grateful for them to include us and if you can suggest any others for them to add please do so. The post Top 100 Legal Blogs on Environmental Law appeared first on Climate Change Blawg: Climate Change Law Blogs, News & Insights.

Law 52
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PARS Environmental, Inc. Announces Joint Venture with Verina Consulting Group, LLC

Montrose

Robbinsville, NJ (September 18, 2020) – PARS Environmental, Inc. (“PARS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Montrose Environmental Group, Inc., and Verina Consulting Group, LLC (“VERINA”), are pleased to announce the approval of the VERINA-PARS Joint Venture (the “JV”) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) under the SBA’s 8(a) business development (“BD”) program.

2004 40
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Louisiana Supreme Court Grants UNOCAL’s Writ Application from Third Circuit Decision Involving Prescription and Breach of Contract in Act 312 Case

The Energy Law Blog

On October 6, 2020, the Louisiana Supreme Court granted a writ application filed by UNOCAL in State of Louisiana, et al. v. Louisiana Land & Exploration Co., et al. This application sought review of the Louisiana Third Circuit’s decision that affirmed the Vermilion Parish School Board’s authority to sue on behalf of the state, rejected a prescription defense on the basis of prescription immunity under the Louisiana Constitution, and found that “environmental damage” as defined under Act 312

Law 52
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No Free Ride on Expropriation Costs

Law of the Lands

AS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN THE RURAL VOICE : In the oft-cited case of Toronto Area Transit Operating Authority v. Dell Holdings Ltd. from 1997, Justice Cory of the Supreme Court of Canada wrote of expropriation: The expropriation of property is one of the ultimate exercises of governmental authority. To take all or part of a person’s property constitutes a severe loss and a very significant interference with a citizen’s private property rights.

2020 52
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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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Manning Environmental Law’s 10th Anniversary

Manning Law

We cannot allow the the month come to and end without celebrating the 10th anniversary of Manning Environmental Law, which took place on October 1. We are very proud to have been established for 10 years and take the opportunity to thank all our clients, professional colleagues and other friends for your continued support during that time, which has seen the practice go from strength to strength.

Law 40
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CRES Forum Climate Policy Directives for Legislators, Policymakers, the Press, and the Public

Cresforum

One of the most destructive myths of modern times is the idea that somehow conservatism is incompatible with good climate policy. But nothing could be further from the truth. Conservatives have overseen some of the most enduring legacies of American environmental policy. Republican Presidents created the Environmental Protection Agency, signed the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act Amendments, the Oil Pollution Act into law, adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Chang

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States Scramble to Respond to Navigable Waters Protection Rule

Ohio Environmental Law

The Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) went into effect on June 21, 2020. The NWPR greatly reduces federal jurisdiction over both streams and wetlands. Most significantly has been the impact to ephemeral streams (i.e. streams that have water only when it rains or there is snow fall). However, even intermittent streams have less protection.

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Amendment to CCR Rule Provides Exception to Closure Requirement for Certain Unlined Ash Impoundments

Environment Next

The Trump administration’s EPA has again finalized changes to the CCR Rule. The most recent rule change—”Part B”—provides an exception to the Rule’s mandate that all unlined impoundments close on or before April 11, 2021. If the rule stands—a big if, for several reasons explained below—certain unlined impoundments may be permitted to continue to operate indefinitely, even despite certain groundwater contamination exceedances.

Waste 40
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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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Department of Interior Proposes New Financial Assurance and Decommissioning Regulations

The Energy Law Blog

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) recently issued a proposed rule on Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention (“Proposed Rule”), which was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2020 and is now open for public comment. The Proposed Rule is the result of an extended effort by the Department of Interior, through its subagencies BOEM and BSEE to “streamline its evaluation criteria for determining

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Oil Majors’ Commitment to Net-Zero Emissions Leads to Investments in Wind Energy

The Energy Law Blog

U.S. and European major oil companies are beginning to re-evaluate their business structure and investment strategies in light of the current financial, legal, and social climate. In response, the industry is seeing a varying degree of investments in renewable energy and commitments to climate-related goals. As companies make this transition into renewable energy, one sector picking up speed is wind energy.

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The Future of Carbon Capture and Sequestration

The Energy Law Blog

By ratifying the 2015 Paris Agreement, [1] nations across the world made a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by the year 2030. Carbon dioxide is one of the primary greenhouse gases found in the Earth’s atmosphere, accounting for 76% of global greenhouse gas emissions according to published reports. Any effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will undoubtedly rely heavily on reducing the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

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U.S. Supreme Court To Review Scope of Appellate Review for Federal Officer Removal in Climate Change Litigation

The Energy Law Blog

Today, the United States Supreme Court granted a Petition for Certiorari filed by energy companies in Baltimore’s climate change lawsuit. By granting the petition, the Supreme Court has agreed to review the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision remanding the suit to state court after rejecting the energy companies’ contention that they were acting as federal officers pursuant to historical contracts with the federal government.

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Floating Foundations: The Future of Offshore Wind

The Energy Law Blog

With recent increased investments in wind power, the development of floating offshore wind farms presents the potential to access areas previously unavailable. On floating offshore wind farms, a wind turbine is attached to a floating structure which is tethered to the sea floor, as opposed to the turbine being a fixed foundation in the sea. This allows the wind turbines to operate in deeper waters. [1].

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Louisiana Supreme Court Addresses the Role of Louisiana Tax Commission

The Energy Law Blog

The Louisiana Supreme Court addressed the role of the Louisiana Tax Commission in its decision in the case of D90 Energy, LLC v. Jefferson Davis Parish Board of Review , No. 2020-C000200. While the case addressed the property tax assessments of a specific taxpayer, its larger importance is the holding regarding the role of the Louisiana Tax Commission in its review of local property tax assessments, including the assessments of oil and gas property.

Law 40
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Louisiana Supreme Court Addresses the Role of Louisiana Tax Commission

The Energy Law Blog

The Louisiana Supreme Court addressed the role of the Louisiana Tax Commission in its decision in the case of D90 Energy, LLC v. Jefferson Davis Parish Board of Review , No. 2020-C000200. While the case addressed the property tax assessments of a specific taxpayer, its larger importance is the holding regarding the role of the Louisiana Tax Commission in its review of local property tax assessments, including the assessments of oil and gas property.

Law 40
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Advancement of CCS in Louisiana

The Energy Law Blog

Earlier this month, Gulf Coast Sequestration (“GCS”), a limited liability company based in Lake Charles, announced its plans to build and operate a carbon capture and sequestration (“CCS”) project that will create a repository 10,000 feet underground for the permanent storage of more than 80 million tons of carbon. Once completed, the GCS facility is expected to be the largest CCS project in the United States and one of the largest in the world, according to its press release.

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Louisiana Supreme Court Grants UNOCAL’s Writ Application from Third Circuit Decision Involving Prescription and Breach of Contract in Act 312 Case

The Energy Law Blog

On October 6, 2020, the Louisiana Supreme Court granted a writ application filed by UNOCAL in State of Louisiana, et al. v. Louisiana Land & Exploration Co., et al. This application sought review of the Louisiana Third Circuit’s decision that affirmed the Vermilion Parish School Board’s authority to sue on behalf of the state, rejected a prescription defense on the basis of prescription immunity under the Louisiana Constitution, and found that “environmental damage” as defined under Act 312

Law 40
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Department of Interior Proposes New Financial Assurance and Decommissioning Regulations

The Energy Law Blog

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (“BSEE”) recently issued a proposed rule on Risk Management, Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention (“Proposed Rule”), which was published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2020 and is now open for public comment. The Proposed Rule is the result of an extended effort by the Department of Interior, through its subagencies BOEM and BSEE to “streamline its evaluation criteria for determining