By Amy Turner Recent efforts by states to preempt local greenhouse gas or energy requirements have not only stymied climate action, they have also been wielded in an undemocratic way that undermines equity in climate policymaking. State preemption of local law is nothing new, but its impact on procedural equity […]
State Activity
28 posts
By Sarah Goldmuntz, Intern The debate about zoning of natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing has intensified with a recent decision by a Pennsylvania appellate court that struck down crucial parts of the law known as Act 13. The law would have required that drilling, waste water pits and pipelines […]
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 Julia Dobtsis JD Candidate, 2012 Cornell Law School On October 20, 2011, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced the adoption its long awaited Air Resources Board Emissions Trading Program. The state-administered program is the first of its kind in the nation. It is considered to be a crucial […]
By Shelley Welton Deputy Director & Fellow Yesterday (Tuesday, October 11), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) held one of a series of stakeholder learning sessions devoted to possible program reforms. Tuesday’s session focused on electricity markets and electricity imports, tackling the important questions of whether RGGI should enact an […]
On June 22, 2011, the New York State Legislature passed The Power NY Act of 2011 (A. 8510/S. 5844) (PNY Act).[1] Governor Cuomo is expected to sign it. The new law, once enacted, would do two very important things: (1) provide a mechanism to allow owners of residential and non-residential […]
By Danielle Sugarman Fellow On June 22, 2011, the New York State Legislature passed The Power NY Act of 2011 (A. 8510/S. 5844) (PNY Act). Governor Cuomo is expected to sign it. The new law, once enacted, would do three very important things: (1) provide a mechanism to allow owners […]
By Julia Ciardullo Fellow On May 26, 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced that New Jersey will withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”) by the end of the year. RGGI is a regional cap-and-trade system encompassing 10 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.[1] Governor Christie’s authority to withdraw arises […]