Fossil Fuels, Greenhouse and Regulations - Environmental Professionals Connection

Aggregating the Harms of Fossil Fuels

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

The decision at the Glasgow climate conference to phase down fossil fuels is an important step forward — and not just because of climate change. We think of fossil fuels as a source of climate change, but that’s only a one part of the problem. Fossil fuels are a case in point. Consider coal.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Water Act Climate Change

California Must Not Abandon its Climate Leadership

Legal Planet

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

We progress despite regular cries of impending doom from regulated industries and their enablers. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard is one of California’s most innovative policy successes. The program requires oil companies to continually reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of California’s transportation fuels.

Air Pollution

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Greenhouse Regulations

Livestock Operations Are Responsible for Over Half of California’s Methane Emissions—Why Won’t CARB Regulate Them?

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 26, 2023

CARB’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) seeks to incentivize the production and sale of alternative, lower emissions transportation fuels in order to displace conventional fossil fuels. To identify which fuels should be promoted, CARB calculates the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels.

Regulations

Regulations Greenhouse Clean Air Act Politics

The Profound Climate Implications of Supreme Court’s West Virginia v. EPA Decision

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2022

That’s because the case, which was about the nature and scope of EPA authority in regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants, turned on a rule that does not exist. Because while this decision does still recognize EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, it simultaneously sharply curtails the agency’s ability to do so.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Clean Air Act Clean Energy Greenhouse

U.S. Climate Law: A Broad & Rapidly Growing Field

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Nuclear power regulation D. FERC pipeline regulation (natural gas and hydrogen). Rules relating to renewable and fossil fuel development on public lands and offshore. California authority to regulate new vehicles D.

Law

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels

Oil Companies Plan to Take the Road Already Traveled

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 30, 2023

The key word here is “ intensity :” Fossil fuel companies often focus on emissions intensity, meaning emissions per barrel of oil, rather than absolute emissions, which is a set number measured in metric tons. That means Exxon still plans to spend the vast majority of its funds on fossil fuel exploration and production.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Paris Agreement 2030 Greenhouse

Hydrogen Combustion is a Dead-End Technology for Heavy-Duty Trucks

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 21, 2023

While industry tried to paint hydrogen combustion engines as a “bridge” technology to hydrogen fuel cells, their own presentations undermined that very point—instead, this path is a clear dead end. We need to make sure regulators like EPA and CARB restrict its usage before it gains a fossil-fueled foothold in the marketplace.

Technology

Technology Technology Fossil Fuels Electricity

Environmental Law Again Front-and-Center at California Supreme Court

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

For the past two decades, explicit state policy has been to transition as quickly as possible from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources–motivated primarily by climate change concerns and the critical need to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Law

Law Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations

Something Stinks: California Must End Manure Biomethane Accounting Gimmicks in its Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation, but indicated they have no plans to address the problems caused by counter-productive subsidies for manure biomethane.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Regulations Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide

Slipping on Climate Pledges, Major Oil and Gas Companies Gain Cover from Anti-ESG Efforts

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 26, 2023

That would be the straw man erected by defenders of the fossil fuel industry who claim that facing climate change is a doctrinaire liberal policy. One group that has filed resolutions in the past is the far-right National Center for Public Policy Research, which fossil fuel companies including ExxonMobil have funded.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Government 2021

Two Arizona Ethylene Oxide-Emitting Facilities Impact Community Health

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 24, 2023

Ethylene oxide is a chemical that is massively produced by fossil fuel industries. Since 1940, almost all industrial ethylene oxide is produced in this energy intensive process that is a heavy emitter of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Ethylene is made from petroleum ( crude oil and refined products).

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Regulations

The Renaissance of Energy Law

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Energy use accounts for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions. The key to getting climate change under control is to rapidly decrease the user of fossil fuels. At the center of traditional utility regulation was a system of price control intended to protect consumers from monopoly prices. Climate change.

Law

Law Fossil Fuels Regulations Electricity

Another Historic Climate Court Ruling in the Netherlands

Legal Planet

JUNE 4, 2021

, its district, appellate , and supreme courts decided in favor of Urgenda, an upstart environmental organization, ordering the government to more aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the face of disappointing legislation and regulation, activists have increasingly turned to courts in the last fifteen years.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Climate Change 2010

The Serious Risks Around Treatment of Biomethane in 45V

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

In December, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service proposed regulations governing implementation of the 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit , passed as part of 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. If negative carbon intensity fuels are allowed, they cannot be used to offset any amount of a facility’s real emissions.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Waste Regulations Electricity

Guest Essay: My Hometown Shows The Benefits Of The Fossil Fuel Industry Come At A Tremendous Cost - Gov. Shapiro, Let's Hold Them Accountable - Support The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

PA Environment Daily

OCTOBER 16, 2023

As illustrated by my own hometown, the truth is that while fossil fuels have provided great benefits for Pennsylvanians, it has also come with a tremendous cost. These comments are in addition to the more than 30,000 comments from individual pro-life Christians collected by EEN supporting former Governor Wolf’s RGGI rulemaking in 2021.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Greenhouse Clean Energy Natural Gas

Public Pressure on ExxonMobil Works. Little Else Does.

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Three trade associations—the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Texas Oil and Gas Association, and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM)—were identified as “partially aligned” for failing to fully support these positions.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Carbon Emissions Climate Change Paris Agreement

How Will EPA’s Proposed Power Plant Carbon Rule Impact Public Health?

Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 10, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a proposed rule which would limit carbon pollution from fossil fuel burning power plants, a move which is critically important, statutorily required, and long overdue. DR. MARC FUTERNICK: It’s all connected to fossil fuels. I care greatly about this subject.

Air Pollution

Air Pollution Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Climate Change

Proposed Electrolyzer Requirements for the Hydrogen Tax Credit: Strengths and Risks

Union of Concerned Scientists

JANUARY 18, 2024

In late December, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released proposed regulations for the Section 45V Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit. Today, hydrogen is overwhelmingly produced through a heavily polluting fossil fuel-based process. It is a climate problem, not a climate solution.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy 2028 Carbon Emissions

The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: Key Takeaways from the 2024 Hearing (Part 3)

Law Columbia

MARCH 12, 2025

Micronesia , Ghana , and Saint Lucia also emphasized that cessation and non-repetition would involve reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting fossil fuel subsidies, and phasing out fossil fuels. States such as Colombia , Jamaica , and Seychelles made similar arguments.

Climate Change

Climate Change Paris Agreement 2024 Fossil Fuels

What Happened During the Montana Youth Climate Trial

Legal Planet

JULY 12, 2023

The bench trial took place last month in the state capitol, Helena, where 16 youth plaintiffs ages 5 to 22 made the case that Montana’s unwavering promotion of fossil fuels violates the state constitution’s guarantee to a “clean and healthful environment.” Whether Montana’s GHG emissions can be measured incrementally.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse Clean Air Act

Without Sufficient Guardrails, the Hydrogen Tax Credit Could Increase Emissions

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 3, 2023

That’s the nightmare scenario we’re facing now as federal regulators establish guidelines for implementing the new hydrogen tax credit. Furthermore, it goes out of its way to provide a definition by reference for “lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions” that unambiguously includes indirect emissions impacts, too.

Clean Energy

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Electricity Renewable Energy

California Ready to Take Giant Leap Toward Zero-Emission Trucks

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2023

In late April, California air regulators are poised to pass one of the most meaningful regulations to reduce pollution from commercial trucks, vans, and buses. The Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which I’ve blogged about in detail before, will phase out fossil-fueled trucks over the next several decades.

Electricity

Electricity Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Regulations

Glossary of Greenhouse Gas Terms

Greenbuilding Law

JUNE 5, 2022

With proposed federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions by the Securities and Exchange Commission requiring GHG disclosure and new state statutes, including a new Maryland law that requires not only disclosure, but also a mandated reduction in GHG emissions, a greater appreciation of the subject of GHG appears in order.

Greenhouse

Greenhouse Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere Fossil Fuels

In Alberta, you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

Enviromental Defense

JANUARY 9, 2025

According to the Alberta Energy Regulator, there are 482,495 wells in the province. Many are abandoning their previous net-zero commitments and going all in on greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels. Of those, there are tens of thousands in the area designed as a buffer zone along Albertas Eastern Slopes.

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Fossil Fuels Government Regulations

Why Energy Bills Will Be Even Higher This Winter

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

Power companies will therefore have to pay more for the fuel, but utilities are generally allowed by state regulators to pass those cost increases onto their customers in the form of higher electricity rates. These claims just add to the deluge of greenwashing and disinformation from the fossil fuel industry.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Electricity Natural Gas

Are carbon taxes a thing of the past?

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 13, 2022

The article surveys a range of criticisms of the use of carbon taxes as a tool to address greenhouse gas emissions, and criticisms of the focus of many economists on carbon taxes as the primary tool to address climate change. And subsidies and regulation are simply more politically feasible than carbon pricing.

Politics

Politics Climate Change Fossil Fuels Technology

New Bill Targets Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Leaks

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

While federal regulators consider changes to their pipeline regulations, the California Legislature should act to keep Californians safe. You might be familiar with carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. There are some federal regulations, but they leave much to be desired.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Regulations Atmosphere

Has Gasoline Use in California Peaked?

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

Switching from fossil fuels like gasoline to increasingly clean electricity sources is vital for hitting climate and air pollution goals. However the long term drop in per person gasoline use is likely due to fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards that have made gasoline vehicles more efficient over the prior decades.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide 2005 Electricity Nitrogen Oxides

California Supreme Court Finds County Ordinance Limiting Oil & Gas Development Preempted by State Law

Legal Planet

AUGUST 6, 2023

However, it’s a disappointment to the initiative’s proponents and to a larger group of environmental advocates who seek to promote California’s quick transition from reliance on heavily-polluting and climate-damaging fossil fuels to renewable energy resources.

Law

Law Fossil Fuels Renewable Energy Regulations

The EPA’s New Truck Rule Is a Modest Step When What Is Needed Is a Giant Leap

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

One particularly notable adjustment reflects a direct request from truck manufacturers, who ( as noted previously ) have been intensely engaged in a battle to weaken the rule as part of an ongoing war against pollution regulations that undermines the lip service the companies give on climate. Sadly, it didn’t. Image source: CARB ).

Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act Electricity Fossil Fuels 2030

Biomethane Threatens to Upend the Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 25, 2023

This includes loopholes related to biomethane, whereby heavily polluting fossil fuel-fired hydrogen production facilities—the very facilities the tax credit is trying to incentivize a shift away from—can cloak themselves as “clean” and reap full tax credit rewards, without having done anything but pushed around paper.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Carbon Dioxide Clean Energy Carbon Emissions

Carbon-neutral ports push

A Greener Life

NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Weifang Port’s “zero-carbon” certification was primarily achieved by transitioning away from fossil fuel use, according to China Electric Power News (CEPN). It has built a wind power system to provide green energy for its operations and deployed hydrogen-powered vehicles to replace fossil-fuel-powered trucks.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Clean Energy Wind Power Solar Power

22 Groups Express Concerns With Pennsylvania’s Carbon Storage Plans, Capacity To Regulate Injection Wells

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 31, 2023

Our regulators should not engage in ushering in the next generation of fossil fuel development. Blue hydrogen's feedstock is methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas. If our regulators will not advocate in our best interest over the process as a whole, why should we give them primary authority over any part of it?" "The

Regulations

Regulations Carbon Dioxide Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection

Do Paris Agreement Temperature Goals Address Sea Level Rise and Climate Justice?

Union of Concerned Scientists

DECEMBER 20, 2022

A case in point is the Kyoto Protocol, an early attempt within the UNFCCC to require industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a certain amount in a given time period. Another actor with immense political power and influence played a role in this shift: the fossil fuel industry.

Sea Level

Sea Level Paris Agreement Climate Change Fossil Fuels

New Report on Liability Considerations for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in the U.S.

Law Columbia

MARCH 18, 2025

The burning of fossil fuels and other human activities are continuing to cause rapid temperature rise. Achieving global climate goals will require rapid and dramatic greenhouse gas emissions reductions, along with the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide Ocean Clean Water Act Fossil Fuels

Clean Fleets Rule Slated to Deliver Healthier Air for Californians

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 4, 2023

In the coming years, Californians will begin to see a massive switch away from highly polluting fossil-fueled trucks to zero-emission electric trucks. Additionally, the rule phases out the sale of fossil-fueled trucks in 2036. This rule creates the first-ever, economy-wide, zero-emission standard for large truck fleets.

Nitrogen Oxides

Nitrogen Oxides Fossil Fuels Air Pollution Ozone

Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court – Regulating Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions

E2 Law Blog

MAY 31, 2022

EPA ) addressing the scope of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil-fuel powered power plaints. Click here to read the article (begins on p.

Greenhouse

Greenhouse Regulations Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection

Volatile Chemical Products: Important Contributors to Harmful Particulate Matter

HumanNature

JANUARY 30, 2025

One of the most well-known ways we have impacted our atmosphere is through the emission of greenhouse gases, which have adversely affected our climate. Regulations and technological innovations, such as the catalytic converter, have led to a decline in tailpipe emissions, reducing emissions of secondary organic aerosol precursors.[6]

Ozone

Ozone Fossil Fuels Atmosphere Ground-Level Ozone

Can Fossil Fuel Companies Be Held Liable for Climate Change?

Law Columbia

OCTOBER 25, 2017

We know that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of anthropogenic climate change, and that climate change is the source of adverse impacts on communities and even regional and national economies. Instead, it has been to stem and confuse the flow of information about climate change to the public and political leaders.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Clean Air Act Sea Level

Governing Emissions Trading in California and China

Legal Planet

MAY 9, 2022

As of 2021, 30 emissions trading systems were in force globally, covering 16 – 17 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. California’s system uses revenues from auctioning allowances to fund its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) and to limit cost increases to electricity users. Carbon markets are at a crossroads.

Government

Government Politics Climate Change Paris Agreement

Clean Energy Continues its Forward Momentum, but Canada Needs to Step Up

Enviromental Defense

OCTOBER 16, 2024

This is great news, considering the outsized impacts of fossil fuels on driving climate change. In addition to scaling up clean energy investments, Canada has a responsibility to do its part in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. We have the tools to support a fair phaseout of fossil fuels.

Clean Energy

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Climate Change Greenhouse

UCS Testimony on the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 25, 2024

Department of the Treasury is hosting a public hearing on the December 2023 proposed regulations governing implementation of the Section 45V Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen. The proposed regulations clearly adhere to that framework, fully comporting with a plain reading of the text. From March 25 to March 27, 2024, the U.S.

Clean Energy

Clean Energy Waste Greenhouse Clean Air Act

Local Government Associations File Brief to the Supreme Court in Support of EPA’s Clean Air Act Authority

Law Columbia

JANUARY 25, 2022

The case concerns the scope of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from existing fossil fuel power plants under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Clean Air Act

Clean Air Act Government Greenhouse Fossil Fuels

Is It Possible to Phase Out Petroleum and Transform our Transportation System?

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Let’s look at the three technological strategies which would lead to decarbonization of the transportation sector and the phaseout of petroleum by midcentury: 1) electrification, 2) strengthening greenhouse gas emission standards and fuel economy standards, and 3) clean liquid fuels.

Electricity

Electricity Biofuels Technology Technology

Aggregating the Harms of Fossil Fuels

California Must Not Abandon its Climate Leadership

Trending Sources

Livestock Operations Are Responsible for Over Half of California’s Methane Emissions—Why Won’t CARB Regulate Them?

The Profound Climate Implications of Supreme Court’s West Virginia v. EPA Decision

U.S. Climate Law: A Broad & Rapidly Growing Field

Oil Companies Plan to Take the Road Already Traveled

Hydrogen Combustion is a Dead-End Technology for Heavy-Duty Trucks

Environmental Law Again Front-and-Center at California Supreme Court

Something Stinks: California Must End Manure Biomethane Accounting Gimmicks in its Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Slipping on Climate Pledges, Major Oil and Gas Companies Gain Cover from Anti-ESG Efforts

Two Arizona Ethylene Oxide-Emitting Facilities Impact Community Health

The Renaissance of Energy Law

Another Historic Climate Court Ruling in the Netherlands

The Serious Risks Around Treatment of Biomethane in 45V

Guest Essay: My Hometown Shows The Benefits Of The Fossil Fuel Industry Come At A Tremendous Cost - Gov. Shapiro, Let's Hold Them Accountable - Support The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Public Pressure on ExxonMobil Works. Little Else Does.

How Will EPA’s Proposed Power Plant Carbon Rule Impact Public Health?

Proposed Electrolyzer Requirements for the Hydrogen Tax Credit: Strengths and Risks

The ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Climate Change: Key Takeaways from the 2024 Hearing (Part 3)

What Happened During the Montana Youth Climate Trial

Without Sufficient Guardrails, the Hydrogen Tax Credit Could Increase Emissions

California Ready to Take Giant Leap Toward Zero-Emission Trucks

Glossary of Greenhouse Gas Terms

In Alberta, you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows

Why Energy Bills Will Be Even Higher This Winter

Are carbon taxes a thing of the past?

New Bill Targets Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Leaks

Has Gasoline Use in California Peaked?

California Supreme Court Finds County Ordinance Limiting Oil & Gas Development Preempted by State Law

The EPA’s New Truck Rule Is a Modest Step When What Is Needed Is a Giant Leap

Biomethane Threatens to Upend the Clean Hydrogen Tax Credit

Carbon-neutral ports push

22 Groups Express Concerns With Pennsylvania’s Carbon Storage Plans, Capacity To Regulate Injection Wells

Do Paris Agreement Temperature Goals Address Sea Level Rise and Climate Justice?

New Report on Liability Considerations for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal in the U.S.

Clean Fleets Rule Slated to Deliver Healthier Air for Californians

Journey to the U.S. Supreme Court – Regulating Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Volatile Chemical Products: Important Contributors to Harmful Particulate Matter

Can Fossil Fuel Companies Be Held Liable for Climate Change?

Governing Emissions Trading in California and China

Clean Energy Continues its Forward Momentum, but Canada Needs to Step Up

UCS Testimony on the Clean Hydrogen Production Tax Credit

Local Government Associations File Brief to the Supreme Court in Support of EPA’s Clean Air Act Authority

Is It Possible to Phase Out Petroleum and Transform our Transportation System?

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