HomeTag: Climate Change

Climate Change

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of February 17, 2025

Pipelines: Mountain Valley Pipeline Requests Approval to Build Southgate Extension ⚡
On February 3, 2025, Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP) submitted an abbreviated application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding its Southgate Extension, which will run from Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to Rockingham County, North Carolina. MVP requests that FERC issue an order amending the project’s certificate of public convenience and necessity, which was originally approved by FERC in 2020, but has faced several legal battles over the past four years. MVP specifically requests approval to construct “31.3 miles of 30-inch-diamater natural gas pipeline . . . , […]

February 17th, 2025|Tags: , , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 27, 2025

Climate Change: New York Court Dismisses Climate Change Suit Against ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP ⚡
On January 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York dismissed a suit brought by the City of New York (“the City”) against ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP. The City of New York v. ExxonMobil Corp., et al, Doc. No. 232 (Supreme Court of New York, County of New York, Commercial Division Part 45, 2025). The City brought two causes of action against the three defendant companies: “(1) violation of the [City’s Consumer Protection Law (CPL)] by […]

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 13, 2025

Public Lands: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Submits Petition to Protect Ruby Mountains ⚡
On December 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS) submitted a petition to withdraw Ruby Mountain in Nevada from “leasing under the mineral and geothermal laws, for 20 years, subject to valid existing rights.” The USFS petition initiates a two-year segregation of Ruby Mountain and includes goals for withdrawing Ruby Mountain such as protecting wildlife and plant habitats and maintaining “recreational opportunities.” The withdrawal petition, according to the USDA’s announcement, asks to ban new mining and federal mineral leases for around […]

January 13th, 2025|Tags: , , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of December 2, 2024

Methane Emissions: EPA Finalizes Methane Emissions Fee for Oil and Gas Sector ⚡
On November 12, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule implementing a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) on certain oil and gas operations. The WEC will apply to high-emitting oil and gas facilities, defined as those reporting to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program annual emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This rule was issued under a Congressional directive of the Inflation Reduction Act requiring the EPA to implement and collect the fees, as well as provide for appropriate exemptions where emissions […]

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of July 29, 2024

LNG Exports: D.C. Federal Court Orders Environmental Assessment for Commonwealth LNG Project ⚡
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a per curiam order granting in part and denying in part petitions to review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of a proposed Gulf Coast LNG project by Commonwealth LNG. Healthy Gulf v. FERC, No. 23-1069 (D.C. Cir. 2024). The petitioners, five environmental groups, argued that FERC did not properly address National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Natural Gas Act (NGA) requirements, nor did it properly “determine […]

July 30th, 2024|Tags: , , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of April 22, 2024

Methane Emissions: DOT and PHMSA Announce Pipeline Repair Funding to Reduce Emissions ⚡
On April 3, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced that $392 million of funding will be dedicated to modernizing pipeline systems and infrastructure with the stated goal of preventing methane pollution emissions. The funding will be divided amongst 130 projects proposed by municipality and community owned utility companies across 26 states. The selected projects involve repairing or replacing almost 500 miles of pipelines, for what PHMSA has said will result in a reduction of methane pollution […]

April 22nd, 2024|Tags: , , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of March 4, 2024

State Regulation: Colorado Limits Government Use of Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment ⚡
In February 2024, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) formally adopted a new regulation first announced in December 2023, that limits the use of gas-powered lawn equipment by state agencies. The new regulation is only applicable during summer months, beginning June 2025, and affects local and state agencies differently. Local agencies within the nine-county span of the North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment area are prohibited from using lawn equipment with more than 10-horsepower on public property. State agencies are restricted statewide from using equipment with engines exceeding […]

March 3rd, 2024|Tags: , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 22, 2024

Infrastructure: $625 Million in Grants Announced to Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure ⚡
On January 11, 2024, the Department of Energy Office (DOE) of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced $625 million in grants to expand the infrastructure of charging capabilities for electronic vehicles. These grants are provided through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program. The noted goal of this round of grants is to construct around “500,000 publicly available chargers by 2030.” The announced grants include $311 million awarded from the Federal Highway Administration to 36 community projects to bolster electric vehicle charging and hydrogen […]

January 22nd, 2024|Tags: , , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of January 15, 2024

State Regulation: Ohio Governor Signs Legislation Limiting EV Regulations and Facilitating Funding for Natural Gas Projects ⚡
On December 28, 2023, the Governor of Ohio signed into law House Bill 201 (the “Bill”) which places limits on regulations of electric vehicles and provides natural gas companies with capabilities to fund future development projects. The Bill expressly prevents municipalities from enacting regulations based on a vehicle’s fuel source. Additionally, the Bill states that the EPA or any state agency is prevented from enacting the vehicle emissions standards recently enacted in California. For natural gas companies, the Bill states that “infrastructure […]

January 15th, 2024|Tags: , , |

Shale Law Weekly Review—Week of December 25, 2023

State Regulation: Massachusetts Orders Gas Companies to Consider Non-gas Pipeline Alternatives ⚡
On December 6, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued Order 20-80 which, according to the DPU, will guide local gas distribution companies (LDCs) in the Commonwealth’s efforts to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050. The Order emphasizes the use of “non-gas pipeline alternatives” such as “electrification, thermal networked systems, targeted energy efficiency and demand response, and behavior change and market transformation” by LCDs. Further, the Order requires LCDs seeking cost recovery for the promotion of natural gas to prove that non-gas pipeline alternatives “were […]

December 27th, 2023|Tags: , , , |