By Katee Kline, Legal Intern On July 24, the Department of the Interior released a final programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) identifying prime areas for solar development, approving seventeen large-scale energy projects on public lands, and outlining the procedure for approval of similar projects. The PEIS, authored by the DOI’s Bureau […]
By Erin Parlar, Legal Intern Another element of the proposed “fracking” measures in New York was recently highlighted in the public debate by a new study by the group Earthworks. The study found that in the period from 2001 through 2010, the number of annual inspections of active conventional oil […]
By Michael Babakitis, Legal Intern An eight-year study conducted by a team of international scientists has identified a potential new weapon in the ongoing battle against climate change. The scientists determined that, by adding iron to the ocean, they could induce a massive algal bloom. This algal bloom then proceeds […]
By Shelley Welton, CCCL Deputy Director and Fellow This summer is an important time for clean energy enthusiasts to pay closer attention to the complex, technical world of electric transmission planning and siting. In July 2011, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order No. 1000, the latest in a […]
By Patrick Woolsey, CCCL Intern Federal agencies have begun to incorporate consideration of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions into the environmental impact statements (EISs) which they are required to produce under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). However, agencies have developed widely varying procedures for addressing the topic, as […]
By Adam Riedel, CCCL Associate Director Environmental impact statements (EISs) should analyze the potential for energy efficiency to reduce the adverse impacts of new projects, to make the projects smaller, or to provide more benign alternatives. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its state counterparts require EISs for major […]
By: Kathleen Kline, Intern On June 19, the California Court of Appeals upheld the Superior Court’s decision dismissing a challenge to the state Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) by environmental justice advocates. Appellants, led by the Association of Irritated Residents (AIR), claimed the scoping plan CARB developed to reduce […]
By Casey Graetz, Intern On June 28, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) adopted regulations (6 NYCRR Parts 487 and 251) with two new important requirements for new and certain expanding major electric generating facilities in the state. First, Part 487 requires these facilities to conduct an […]