Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 1, 2024

This decision , reached with a 6-3 majority led by Chief Justice John Roberts, marks a significant shift in administrative law and has profound implications for environmental regulations and climate accountability. Successful court cases could limit the scope of future regulations. Worse, agencies may decide not to even try.

Regulations 359

Regulations Fossil Fuels Environmental Protection Clean Air Act 359

Legal Planet

APRIL 8, 2025

The report is intended to help policymakers harness satellite data to improve their climate policies, enforce emissions regulations, and accelerate methane reduction efforts. Meanwhile, advances in satellite technology alongside artificial intelligence and machine learning will continue to improve detection accuracy and coverage.

Carbon Dioxide 130

Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Regulations Government 130

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 19, 2025

over the existing technology. Reusing depleted oil and gas wells would allow operators to access geothermal heat in hot rock formations underground, eliminating upfront costs of drilling new wells and potentially making the technology more appealing to industry, the scientists said.

Technology 70

Technology Technology Renewable Energy Clean Energy 70

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Assembly Bills: A major focus of environmental regulation in California has been on ways to alleviate the health disparities faced by environmentally burdened frontline communities. Let’s see which of the environmental bills I’ve been tracking for Legal Planet were touchdowns and which ones were sidelined.

Law 264

Law Carbon Monoxide 2029 2024 264

Law Columbia

JANUARY 31, 2025

The Sabin Center has previously discussed the regulation of OAE here and here. A new Sabin Center report continues the conversation by focusing on the regulation of OAE in Washington State. OAE projects conducted in near-shore areas off the Washington coast may be subject to regulation at the federal, state, tribal and local levels.

Ocean 59

Ocean Regulations Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere 59

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 17, 2025

In the rush to integrate artificial intelligence into the economy, fast-moving information technology companies are running into a problem: slow-moving electric utilities. The notion that an existing power plant can serve a data center, and not use the grid, is now before regulators for consideration.

Electricity 262

Electricity Nuclear Power Technology Technology 262

Legal Planet

MARCH 28, 2025

While many environmental effects may already be considered and regulated under other statutes, there may be many other effects that are not considered under other statutes. It might be because the environmental effect is an uncommon one, one that was not seen as widespread or important enough to justify regulation.

Clean Water Act 130

Clean Water Act Clean Air Act Endangered Species Act Regulations 130

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

You don’t have to look beyond the front pages of newspapers , or beyond rooftops in your neighborhood to know that we are in the midst of a clean energy revolution, with renewable energy technologies dramatically decreasing in price and increasing in availability.

Law 325

Law Renewable Energy Clean Energy Fossil Fuels 325

Environment + Energy Leader

MAY 5, 2023

Likewise, the implementation of the truck marks an important step toward new California regulations that require the adoption of zero-direct emission truck refrigeration technologies.

Electricity 244

Electricity Technology Technology Regulations 244

Legal Planet

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Utilities were famously set in their ways, using nineteenth century technologies to produce and deliver their products. Technological changes. Wind and solar energy aren’t new ideas, but rapid technological changes have driven prices down to a fraction of their earlier levels. Only specialists really paid much attention.

Law 246

Law Fossil Fuels Regulations Electricity 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

I’ve written previously about how the truck industry is fighting regulations at the state and federal level with everything they’ve got. One of the scare tactics truck manufacturers have been pushing is the old industry canard of job-killing regulations. Why would truck regulations impact jobs?

2007 299

2007 Nitrogen Oxides Regulations 2004 299

Legal Planet

JUNE 24, 2024

Without such data, state and federal water regulators can’t administer and enforce water rights systems effectively and on a timely basis. Berkeley report provides an excellent set of recommendations for state policymakers and water regulators as to how these monitoring deficiencies can and should be corrected.

Technology 289

Technology Technology Environmental Science Law 289

Law and Environment

AUGUST 18, 2023

In rejecting Montana’s SIP, EPA repeatedly pointed to Montana’s failure to comply with EPA’s guidelines for determining Best Available Retrofit Technology, even though the guidelines were not enforceable regulations. The post Guidance Is Still Not the Same as Regulation first appeared on Law and the Environment.

Regulations 130

Regulations Clean Air Act Technology Technology 130

Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

In much of the country, those wholesale transactions are under the control of regional transmission organizations established by federal power regulators, but that’s not true everywhere. In those states where rates are regulated, regulators can do some things to shift these incentives.

Fossil Fuels 299

Fossil Fuels Regulations Clean Energy Renewable Energy 299

Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Although the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has existing regulations intended to control fugitive dust emissions, outdated dust mitigation measures and inconsistent enforcement have left communities like Sun Valley without adequate protection. We look forward to this bill heading to committee after 30 days.

Recycling 130

Recycling 2006 Technology Technology 130

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 9, 2025

The bill, introduced by State Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde and State Senator Chris Larson, creates an enforceable timeline with specific objectives, allowing flexibility for discussions of the various technology and policy approaches to come later.

Fossil Fuels 220

Fossil Fuels Climate Change Natural Gas Clean Energy 220

New Scientist

DECEMBER 11, 2023

The European Union is finalising its AI Act, which attempts to regulate the use of artificial intelligence, but it isn't clear that the legislation can keep pace with the cutting edge of technology

Regulations 115

Regulations Technology Technology 115

Legal Planet

OCTOBER 13, 2022

The article quotes a range of economists and other climate policy experts to the effect that subsidies and regulations are superior to carbon pricing because they can address equity issues, and that they can move investment in decarbonization technology more quickly than carbon pricing.

Politics 246

Politics Climate Change Fossil Fuels Technology 246

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

And current EPA regulations for public health don’t require facilities to account for fugitive emissions , meaning companies have no reason to rein them in. These GHGs are not regulated, so producers can emit them freely. And any fines for violating regulations are paltry sums to companies that make billions of dollars per quarter.

Climate Change 321

Climate Change Regulations Recycling Greenhouse 321

Legal Planet

MARCH 21, 2022

But this seemingly simple calculation turns out to be riddled with uncertainties, particularly when you’re talking about regulating the energy industry. Those uncertainties need more attention in designing regulations. That’s because figuring out what the regulation actually cost is tricky.

2011 246

2011 Regulations Natural Gas Pollution Control 246

Scientific American

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

As social media more frequently exposes people to brutality and untruths, we need to treat it like a consumer product, and that means product safety regulations

Regulations 125

Regulations Technology Technology 125

Legal Planet

APRIL 3, 2023

EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Investment and incentives for clean technologies under the Inflation Reduction Act. Nuclear power regulation D. FERC pipeline regulation (natural gas and hydrogen). California authority to regulate new vehicles D. Social Cost of Carbon D.

Law 246

Law Endangered Species Act Clean Air Act Biofuels 246

Legal Planet

JANUARY 2, 2023

Last week, MIT’s “Technology Review” reported that a small startup firm is proposing to spray reflective aerosols in the stratosphere commercially as a climate corrective. And in all likelihood, they are not breaking any current law or regulation. Stratospheric Aerosol Injection or SAI.) Could this activity change the climate?

Cooling 364

Cooling Atmosphere Regulations Government 364

Union of Concerned Scientists

NOVEMBER 30, 2022

But switching to electricity has also opened the door to new automakers, as complex engines with proprietary technologies are replaced with comparatively simpler electric motors and batteries. Regulations still important to ensure the transition to EV accelerates.

Electricity 299

Electricity 2026 Regulations 2015 299

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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. California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look.

Fossil Fuels 331

Fossil Fuels Regulations Renewable Energy Carbon Dioxide 331

PA Environment Daily

JANUARY 18, 2024

On January 18, the Department of Environmental Protection presented the final version of technical guidance on using trenchless technology to construct natural gas, other pipelines and underground utilities to the DEP Water Resources Advisory Committee. Each project that proposes trenchless technology (e.g.,

Natural Gas 109

Natural Gas Technology Technology Regulations 109

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

In 2016 Monterey County voters passed Measure Z, a citizen initiative intended to bar the drilling of new oil and gas wells in the county and ban the use of fracking technology for existing wells in Monterey County. The oil and gas industry, led by Chevron U.S.A.,

Law 264

Law Fossil Fuels Climate Change Regulations 264

Circle of Blue

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021

Satellite data is one monitoring tool regulators turn to in this very dry year. Regulators at the State Water Resources Control Board voted in August to cut off many farms and towns that withdraw water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, which drains about 40 percent of the state’s land. Photo taken June 15, 2021.

Regulations 345

Regulations 2014 2021 Technology 345

Union of Concerned Scientists

OCTOBER 7, 2022

In addition, auto manufacturers can access further information through the onboard diagnostic system, a proprietary technology that is only available at certified mechanics. Several research labs and startups have identified this process inefficiency and are developing technology that can be used to estimate the state of health.

Renewable Energy 264

Renewable Energy Recycling Technology Technology 264

PA Environment Daily

APRIL 29, 2024

On April 29, Max Environmental Technologies, Inc. EPA officials inspected the facility in March 20-24, 2023, to determine MAX’s compliance with environmental regulations, including the terms of its PA DEP-issued CWA and RCRA permits. There is no timetable on when the regulation is to be finalized. Read more here.

Waste 101

Waste Technology Technology Clean Water Act 101

Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 21, 2024

This includes capacity building, technology transfer, and preferential treatment in funding and technical assistance. Moving forward, nations must begin to incorporate the directives from this decision into their own national laws and regulations. Calls for comprehensive monitoring and reporting.

Ocean 65

Ocean Climate Change Sea Level Paris Agreement 65

PA Environment Daily

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the February 24 PA Bulletin the final technical guidance on using trenchless technology to construct natural gas, other pipelines and underground utilities is now available and effective. A copy of the related Comment and Response Document is also available. Read more here.] [On

Natural Gas 98

Natural Gas Technology Technology Regulations 98

Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 16, 2022

Renewable energy generation increases faster than any other technology. Generation from renewable technologies more than covers the increase in electricity demand, also making up for coal and nuclear plant retirements. Source: US Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook 2022 (AEO2022).

Natural Gas 290

Natural Gas Renewable Energy Climate Change Electricity 290

Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

This arrangement was negotiated 25 years ago and is part of a decades-old program of cooperation on nuclear technology, which includes agreements not to use this assistance for military purposes. These agreements often involve the transfer of reactor technology, supply of nuclear fuel, and training of specialists to operate the reactors.

Nuclear Power 349

Nuclear Power 2016 2017 2018 349

Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Included in the regulation are requirements for mineral sourcing, life cycle emissions, information sharing, and recycling. These regulations set a precedent for battery policy; an area where the US needs to do more. Why does the EU need new battery regulations?

Law 264

Law Recycling Regulations 2030 264

PA Environment Daily

MARCH 27, 2025

Of the water withdrawal points regulated by SRBC, only shale gas development water withdrawals have restrictions at this point because they take their water from smaller streams. Clear Water Technology, LLC, Middle Branch Wyalusing Creek Susquehanna County, Forest Lake Twp.:

2026 105

2026 Air Pollution Waste Regulations 105

Union of Concerned Scientists

JULY 27, 2022

EVs are a newer technology, and their batteries require different end-of-life processing than gasoline vehicles. They connect multiple EV batteries together, along with battery monitoring and cooling technology, to create a larger battery that is about the size of a shipping container.

Recycling 362

Recycling Electricity Renewable Energy Technology 362