Environment & Energy Report

US Nixes Environmental Racism Probe, Sparking Advocates’ Concern

The EPA’s decision to scrap a pivotal civil rights investigation on Louisiana’s Cancer Alley drew concern from advocates and residents about the future of the agency’s commitments to justice for communities plagued by legacy pollution.

ESG Enforcement Emerges as Risk for Oil Firms, Bitcoin Miners

An SEC enforcement initiative targeting misleading ESG disclosures has become a business risk for dozen of public companies, including bankrupt Bitcoin miner Core Scientific, shale oil producer Pioneer Natural Resources and banking giant Ally.

Youth Climate Case Plaintiffs Criticize DOJ ‘Rinse-and-Repeat’

A judge should reject the federal government’s attempts to “rinse-and-repeat” and allow a landmark climate change case to go to trial, the group of young people that filed the suit said.

Energy Department’s Second Boiler Rule Vacated by D.C. Circuit

The Department of Energy didn’t address industry concerns when adopting stricter commercial boiler efficiency rules, the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday, vacating the final rule.

Energy Groups Object to Conservation as Use of Public Lands

Defining conservation as a specific “use” of public lands is shaping up to be the primary point of legal opposition to a proposed federal lands rule that would prioritize conservation over fossil fuels extraction and allow public lands management to adapt to a changing climate.

PRACTITIONER INSIGHTS

View More Insights

US Needs Its Own Carbon Math in Advance of a Border Carbon Tax

Chris Romer

Project Canary

Ditching the LSAT Won’t Fix the Profession, But It’s a Good Start

Joshua Sohn

Stroock

Why the Word ‘Doctrine’ Matters in the Major Questions Doctrine

Allison Orr Larsen

William & Mary Law School

Latest Stories

Companies Craft Contracts Absent Firm Clean Energy Labor Rules

Many of the lucrative clean energy tax credits from President Joe Biden’s tax-and-climate law hinge on labor requirements that still lack any regulations.

By Erin Slowey

Baker Botts Adds Sahay as Climate, Energy Partner in Washington

Shailesh Sahay has joined Baker Botts as a partner with the environmental, safety, and incident response section of the litigation department in Washington, D.C., the firm said Monday.

Toyota, Stellantis Pan Biden Bid to Use EVs as Emission-Fighters

Stellantis NV and Toyota Motor Corp. blasted a Biden administration plan to squelch auto pollution, saying it would compel aggressive and unrealistic sales of electric vehicles that strain critical mineral supplies.

Wetlands Ruling Undercuts Permitting Challenge, Florida Says

The state of Florida is arguing that the Supreme Court’s May wetlands ruling helps to undermine environmental groups’ standing to challenge a Trump-era EPA decision to give the state control over a federal wetlands dredge-and-fill permitting program.

Heat Stress Deaths Show Europe Isn’t Ready for Climate Change

More than 60,000 people died as a result of record-breaking temperatures in Europe last summer, a study has found, raising concerns about multiple countries’ lack of preparation for extreme heat fueled by climate change.

African Nations Take Big Swing to Rule Global Offset Market

As home to the world’s second-biggest rainforest, the largest tropical peatlands, and swathes of mangroves, governments across the African continent appear to be in a good position to benefit from the growing global trade in emissions offsets.

Boies Schiller Flexner Adds Litigator David Lehn as D.C. Partner

David Lehn has joined Boies Schiller Flexner as a partner in Washington, D.C., the firm said Monday.

Plugging Methane Leaks From Derelict Oil Wells for Carbon Credit

Rebellion Energy Solutions LLC is one of a handful of companies that have popped up in the past two years aiming to locate abandoned oil and gas wells, calculate how much they’re leaking and cap them to keep the gases deep underground. If all goes to plan, they’ll sell their work as so-called carbon credits to buyers seeking to voluntarily offset their own emissions.

Capitalism Alone Won’t Save the Planet: Mark Gongloff

With every record-smashing day, week, month, and year of global warming that goes by, finding solutions to climate change becomes more urgent. Capitalism helped get us into this mess, and it will have to help us get out of it. But it isn’t capable of doing the work alone.

HILL ENERGY BRIEFING: GOP, US Agencies Up Scrutiny of ESG

Republicans aren’t letting up on the attacks against ESG policies, as companies also face increasing scrutiny from federal agencies on such policies.

From Across Bloomberg Law

Business & Practice

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

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The United States Law Week

Business & Practice
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
Social Justice & Diversity
The United States Law Week

Ropes & Gray Recruits Restructuring Partner Hwangpo in New York

Natasha S. Hwangpo has joined Ropes & Gray as a restructuring partner in New York, the firm announced Monday.

Loeb & Loeb Drafts Privacy, Security, Data Innovation Partner

Harry Valetk has joined Loeb & Loeb as a partner in the privacy, security and data innovation practice group in New York, the firm announced Monday.

Baker Botts Adds Sahay as Climate, Energy Partner in Washington

Shailesh Sahay has joined Baker Botts as a partner with the environmental, safety, and incident response section of the litigation department in Washington, D.C., the firm said Monday.

Paul Hastings Recruits Phair, Lee as Antitrust Partners in D.C.

Ryan Phair and Craig Y. Lee have joined Paul Hastings as partners with the antitrust practice in Washington, D.C., the firm said Monday.

Venable Adds Adam Weg as Commercial Litigation Partner in L.A.

Adam M. Weg has joined Venable LLP as a partner in the commercial litigation practice in Los Angeles, the firm said Monday.

BakerHostetler Brings on Advertising Partner La Voi in Chicago

Sarah La Voi has joined BakerHostetler as a partner in the digital assets and data management practice group in Chicago, the firm announced Monday.

Sustainability Rulemaker to Monitor Global Climate Guidelines

The International Sustainability Standards Board said Monday that it would assume responsibility for monitoring climate reporting guidelines set by global regulators.

HSBC Says Rising ‘Anti-ESG’ Sentiment in US Is Impacting Funds

The backlash against investing strategies that factor in environmental, social and governance issues is rising in the US and is impacting the way managers are thinking about integrating such considerations into their funds, according to a survey by HSBC Holdings Plc.

Activist Fights Tick Up, Along With Settlements (1)

The first proxy season after a key US rule change was expected to rock the shareholder activism world. Instead, the universal proxy card turned typically public battles into something more private and discreet, with settlements reached behind the scenes or very quickly once they become known.

African Nations Take Big Swing to Rule Global Offset Market

House Panel Prods Fed’s Powell for Help With SVB Collapse Probe

The US House’s top government watchdog committee is asking Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to help its investigation into the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, saying Fed officials are balking at turning over some records.

Icahn Shares Surge on Renegotiated Loan Terms After Hindenburg

Carl Icahn has renegotiated loan terms with a group of banks just months after a report by short seller Hindenburg Research sent shares in his investment firm tanking.

Universal Orlando Must Face Suit by Man Blocked From Waterslide

Universal Orlando Resort saw its win reversed in a lawsuit over denying a man access to a waterslide because he only has one arm.

Virginia Agency Settles With Female Geologists Over Pay Gap (1)

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reached a settlement with three female geologists who allege they were paid lower salaries because of their sex.

Abortion Ban Vote Teed Up in Iowa After Split Court Ruling

Legislation to ban abortion in Iowa after six weeks will once again go before the state Legislature Tuesday, after a split decision by the state’s highest court blocked an earlier law from taking effect.

Wisconsin Allowed to Proceed in Suit Over Alleged Abortion Law

Wisconsin can partially proceed with a suit aimed at preventing county district attorneys from prosecuting doctors under an antiquated law that allegedly criminalized abortions.

McCarthy Faces Social Policy Tripwires as House Debates Defense

House Republican leaders have a tough job when they bring the annual defense policy bill to the floor this week: wrangling conservatives who seek to curtail diversity and inclusion, abortion rights, and security aid to Ukraine — while attracting enough Democrats to pass the legislation.

BGOV OnPoint: House Readies Fiscal 2024 Defense Authorization

The House is scheduled to consider the fiscal 2024 Nation Defense Authorization Act the week of July 10, with a total discretionary funding level aligned with the spending limit set for national security programs under the June debt-limit deal (Public Law 118-5).

Vet Convicted in Racehorse Doping Scheme Must Pay $10.3 Million

A veterinarian convicted of federal criminal offenses in connection with a 20-year scheme to create and distribute performance enhancing drugs for use in professional horse racing is on the hook for a $10.3 million judgment.

Exxon Defeats DACA Recipient’s Job Bias Suit at Fourth Circuit

A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., declined to extend workplace protections to a Mexican citizen in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program who claimed ExxonMobil Corp. unlawfully used his immigration status to rescind a paid internship offer.

Universal Orlando Must Face Suit by Man Blocked From Waterslide

Universal Orlando Resort saw its win reversed in a lawsuit over denying a man access to a waterslide because he only has one arm.

Harrisburg Prevails in Anti-Abortion Counselors’ Buffer Zone Row

Anti-abortion sidewalk counselors’ efforts to invalidate a Harrisburg, Pa., clinic buffer zone ordinance failed because the provision didn’t outlaw the activities in which they want to engage, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said Monday.

Social Worker Loses Appeal to Undo Health-Care Fraud Conviction

A Florida social worker convicted of health care fraud following a five-week trial in 2013 lost an appeal for habeas relief after the Eleventh Circuit rejected claims that she received ineffective assistance of counsel.

Medtronic Must Again Face Neurostimulation Patent Challenges

An administrative tribunal erred when it let Medtronic Inc. escape from a pair of patent validity challenges, a Federal Circuit panel ruled Monday, ordering the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to reconsider a competitor’s arguments that the patents cover an obvious innovation.