Regulation
Reflections on the Coastal Commission’s Implosion
The Implications of the Decision to Fire Charles Lester – and the Decision Not to Explain It
As Rick Frank insightfully discussed earlier this week, the California Coastal Commission has fired its former executive director, Charles Lester. Readers interested in more background information and analysis should read Rick’s post, as well as the excellent reporting by Tony Barboza and others from the LA Times. (And anyone who wants to hear about it …
Continue reading “Reflections on the Coastal Commission’s Implosion”
CONTINUE READINGCalifornia Coastal Commissioners Fire Executive Director Charles Lester
Personnel Dispute is Commission’s Biggest Political Controversy in Over a Decade
Following months of public controversy and a marathon 10 1/2 hour hearing Wednesday in Morro Bay, a closely-divided California Coastal Commission voted to fire its Executive Director, Charles Lester. The Commission vote to remove Lester was 7-5. Lester, who as Executive Director has led the Commission staff for the past 4 1/2 years, is the …
Continue reading “California Coastal Commissioners Fire Executive Director Charles Lester”
CONTINUE READINGLessons from Aliso Canyon, Part I
Regulation of the Oil and Gas Sector
Since October 23, 2015, a leak in a natural gas well has been releasing methane gas near the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles. Although methane is invisible and odorless, gas companies add odorants to alert people to leaks, and it is these additives, usually mercaptans, that experts believe are causing the physical effects suffered by …
Continue reading “Lessons from Aliso Canyon, Part I”
CONTINUE READINGThe Future of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant
A group of scientists, philanthropists, and self-identified conservationists weighs in.
The role that nuclear power could or should play in helping to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions is worthy of serious debate, but the latest nuclear-related front-page story in the San Francisco Chronicle is a head-scratcher. Above the fold, the headline reads “Nuclear plant’s surprise backers,” followed by the following subheading: “Environmentalists push for Diablo Canyon …
Continue reading “The Future of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant”
CONTINUE READINGEPA Wins the First Round in Clean Power Plan Litigation
…But this is just the beginning—and the Supreme Court will have a say
As we reported last week, on January 21st, a D.C. Circuit panel denied Clean Power Plan opponents’ request for a “stay”—or temporary suspension—of the rule pending judicial review. Read the court order here. We have discussed the Clean Power Plan litigation at length on Legal Planet. As a quick refresher, the Clean Power Plan is …
Continue reading “EPA Wins the First Round in Clean Power Plan Litigation”
CONTINUE READINGBig Win For Clean Technology In The Supreme Court Today
Court validates federal rule to encourage more efficient electricy usage
The future of a clean electricity grid will require more decentralization based on clean technology, like solar and energy storage. Large industrial customers are investing in these technologies and also signing up to moderate their electricity demand in response to larger grid needs (i.e. reducing usage when electricity becomes expensive and dirty to produce). Smaller …
Continue reading “Big Win For Clean Technology In The Supreme Court Today”
CONTINUE READINGThe Flint Lead Crisis
Three Interesting Notes About Lead Regulation and Exposure
At this point, you would need to be a hermit to have missed the news coverage of elevated levels of lead in the drinking water in Flint, MI. (Although even that might not be a valid excuse given an ancient, anonymous Roman hermit described lead poisoning). The short version is: in April 2014 a cash …
Continue reading “The Flint Lead Crisis”
CONTINUE READINGDC Circuit Denies Stay of Clean Power Plan
The DC Circuit issued a judgment denying the request for a stay in the case challenging the Clean Power Plan, West Virginia v. EPA. The decision simply states that the petitioners failed to meet the “stringent requirements for a stay pending court review.” The court ordered the parties to submit a proposed briefing schedule by …
Continue reading “DC Circuit Denies Stay of Clean Power Plan”
CONTINUE READINGThe Perverse Growth of the “Job Killing” Meme
As unemployment goes down and down, talk about “job killing regulations” goes up and up.
We’ve had a number of posts about the claim that regulations cause major job losses. The evidence doesn’t support this claim. (See this post from October). But the claim at least seemed understandable in the depths of the recession, when people were desperately worried about unemployment. The weird thing is that as unemployment has gone …
Continue reading “The Perverse Growth of the “Job Killing” Meme”
CONTINUE READING2016: The Year of Living Dangerously
2015 was a year of forward movement. Much of that could be in jeopardy this year.
We are at the start of a year of danger for environmental policy. 2015 saw many accomplishments in environmental law: the Administration issued the “waters of the United States” and Clean Power Plan regulations, a Supreme Court ruling in favor of EPA’s cross-state air pollution rule, and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Much of this progress is …
Continue reading “2016: The Year of Living Dangerously”
CONTINUE READINGJoin Our Mailing List
Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.
