Clean Energy

270 posts

Guest Blog: Powering Data Centers with Clean Energy: Google’s Clean Transition Tariff

  The rising interest in artificial intelligence and data centers has sparked discussions on how to meet the immense power demand from data centers in a carbon-responsible manner. Many data center operators have 100% clean energy pledges, but regulatory barriers can make meeting these goals challenging. This is particularly true […]

Offshore Drilling Rig, Santa Barbara, CA, 6 December, 2011. Wikimedia Commons User TheConduqtor, CC3.0

Enforcing Legacy Environmental Liabilities for Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure

The Sabin Center’s newest publication, Enforcing Legacy Environmental Liabilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, examines legal strategies to hold the former owners of offshore oil and gas infrastructure, like rigs, wells, and pipelines, liable for the costs of “decommissioning” their facilities—plugging wells, removing offshore installations, and generally making the site […]

Implementing the Inflation Reduction Act: Progress to Date and Risks from a Changing Administration

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) represents the largest investment in climate action in U.S. history. In the two years since its enactment, the IRA has spurred a flurry of activity aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emission, and protecting communities from the impacts of climate change. But there is still […]

Speeding Up the Green Transition: Proposed Permitting Reforms for Faster Renewable Energy Development

With the Biden administration setting ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a clean energy future, the need for swift and efficient deployment of renewable energy projects has never been more urgent. Although the current permitting process is designed to ensure environmental protection and public safety, many […]

Michigan’s New Siting Process Gives Some Authority to State Regulators, But Under What Circumstances?

Over the last 10 years, dozens of townships in Michigan have effectively halted renewable energy development by adopting severe zoning restrictions, such as moratoriums. Many of these local restrictions, however, may become moot after November 29, 2024, when a new state law that reforms the siting process for large-scale wind, […]

Federal Court Refuses to Halt Construction of Revolution Wind Project

Over the past few years, opponents of offshore wind energy have filed at least 15 lawsuits against 5 projects in federal court. One tactic that plaintiffs in these lawsuits sometimes use is to move for a preliminary injunction to halt construction until the court reaches a final decision on the […]

So Your CPRG Application Didn’t Get Funded

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the 25 successful applicants for a shared $4.3 billion in implementation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program. The grants will enable investments in solar projects, building energy-efficiency upgrades, the buildout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, […]

Guest Blog: Big Announcements About New York Offshore Wind Development Mark Small (but Important) Steps Toward Meeting 2035 Target

The draft of New York’s Clean Energy Standard Biennial Review was published July 1 by New York State Department of Public Service (NYS DPS) and New York State Energy Research and Development (NYSERDA). It illuminates the challenge ahead for New York to meet the clean energy goals of the Climate […]