Advanced Coal & Fossil Fuels Practice
Issue Alerts
Weekly Climate Change Policy Update - January 19, 2010
Kyle Danish, Shelley Fidler, Kevin Gallagher, Megan Ceronsky, Tomás CarbonellJanuary 19, 2010
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sees a bipartisan climate bill on the floor of the Senate in the Spring . . . Reid and some other Senate Democrats are rallying in opposition to an expected amendment from Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), but it’s not yet clear whether she will offer an amendment and, if she does, what form it will take . . . The countdown is underway: January 31 is the deadline under the Copenhagen Accord for major economies to register their mitigation commitments. It will be a first test of the durability of the Accord.
Obama Orders Federal Agencies to Set Targets to Reduce Agency Emissions
Shelley Fidler, Doug Smith, Megan CeronskyOctober 27, 2009
On October 5, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514 – Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance – which directs each Federal agency to set a target to reduce its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
Second Circuit Reinstates Lawsuit Claiming GHG Emissions from Six Utilities Constitute Nuisance Under Federal Common Law
Howard Shapiro, Sam Kalen, Tomás CarbonellSeptember 24, 2009
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has reinstated a suit against six of the nation’s largest electric utilities, claiming that their emissions of greenhouse gases from coal-fired generating plants are causing harmful climate change and should be enjoined as a public nuisance under federal common law.
EPA Issues Proposed "Endangerment Finding," A Precursor to Greenhouse Gas Regulation Under the Clean Air Act
Kyle Danish, Doug Smith, Tomás CarbonellApril 20, 2009
On April 17, 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposed finding that six greenhouse gases (GHGs) endanger the public health and welfare under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). This “endangerment finding” also proposed to conclude that motor vehicle emissions contribute to GHG pollution, laying the groundwork for EPA to issue vehicle GHG emission standards.
Post-Election Update
Edited by Curt RichNovember 6, 2008
Democrats captured the White House and substantially improved their majorities in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives during Tuesday’s national elections. President-elect Barack Obama and his team plan to move quickly with a transition plan, with key cabinet positions possibly being announced as early as next week.
Articles
U.S. Climate Change Policy Will Drive Significant Investment Opportunities in Traditional and Alternative Energy
Ben McMakin and Janet AndersonManaged Funds Association Reporter
April 2008
A new President and the likelihood of more Democrats in the House and Senate may tip the balance of power in energy debates from traditional oil and gas interests to proponents of new energy sources and cleantech goods and services. While we watch the election unfold, and as the rhetorical battles over energy policy continue in Washington, D.C., climate change legislation looms largest of all the energy debates.
Clean tech depends on federal policy
This guest column first appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on November 14, 2007.Curt Rich, Ben McMakin
November 14, 2007
Curt Rich and Ben McMakin offer insight on why local leaders, companies with promising technologies, and venture capital and financial sectors must engage in both Washingtons if they want the promising clean-tech sector to thrive.
Seminars & Events
Energy Daily Webinar: Energy Funding Opportunities in the Obama Administration
February 24, 2010Jennifer Owen is speaking at this event.
Webinar: 2010 Outlook for U.S. Energy and Environmental Policy
January 13, 2010Van Ness Feldman hosted a webinar on January 13, 2010 during which the speakers, Kyle Danish, Curt Rich, and Ben McMakin, discussed the major trends pertaining to energy, environmental, and climate policy.
Carbon Capture and Sequestration Summit
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DCSeptember 14, 2009
Shannon Angielski is speaking at this event.
Electric Energy: Markets, Regulation and Investment
Capital Hilton Hotel, Washington, DCMarch 3, 2008
Van Ness Feldman's Douglas Smith and Kyle Danish will be two of the Program Co-Chairs. Mr. Smith will speak at 10:45 AM on March 3 during the session "Electricity Utility Regulation: Current Regulatory Challenges". Mr. Danish will speak at 3:15 PM on March 3 during the session entitled "Climate Change and Strategies for Electric Utilites and their Regulators".
Webinar: Americans for Balanced Energy Choices
October 18, 2007As the national debate intensifies about how America will meet its growing energy needs while being environmentally responsible, an often mentioned subject is clean coal technologies. To bring clarity to the debate, the first in a series of free quarterly Webinars will help take the mystery out of "clean coal" technologies being developed and used today.