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Blog
A Different Kind of Class: Children Seek Equally Protected Futures
Youth across the globe are increasingly speaking out about climate change and its impacts on their lives. In a new suit, young plaintiffs seek a judicial declaration that the U.S. government has denied them equal protection of the law by allowing life-threatening levels of fossil fuel climate pollution in ways that deliberately discriminate against children.
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Blog
A Full Trip Around the Sun, Yet EJ Remains Eclipsed at FERC
Exactly one year after FERC held its Roundtable on Environmental Justice and Equity in Infrastructure Permitting, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision affirming FERC’s broad authority in pipeline matters. This year, there are more vacancies on the Commission, and pushing for EJ reforms remains crucial.
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Blog
DOL Paves the Road Green for Retirement
The Department of Labor has just released a finalized rule around its Investment Duties regulation in order to clarify how Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-regulated fiduciaries can take into consideration climate and environmental, social, governance (ESG) issues.
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Blog
Leading the Clean Energy Charge: Spotlight on State AGs
When it comes to the future of a clean energy grid, it might be surprising to learn that state attorneys general play a big role at both the state and federal levels. But it’s true. Regardless of who is leading the Department of Energy or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, for years, states have played an important role, and recent examples prove this yet again.
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Blog
Easy as Pi: Regulating for the Grid of the Future
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is poised to take action this spring on transmission reform – reforms that are needed so that new energy sources make it to the grid and to meet growing demand. FERC’s Chairman Willie Phillips has said the reforms are in their “final lap.” It is time to get back up to speed.
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Blog
Looking (at Climate Impacts) Before Leaping (to Expand a Pipeline)
In two weeks, the D.C. Circuit will hear oral argument on a controversial natural gas pipeline project which is supposed to add 36 miles of new pipeline, as well as infrastructure, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Here is a rundown of the arguments before the court.
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Blog
Investor Transparency and Shareholder Opportunity Go Together Like E, S, and G
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices at corporations have been making headlines and fueling a vigorous debate along with new lawsuits. Two recent podcasts from Recharged with the State Impact Center highlight some of the emerging themes.
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Blog
Six More Weeks of...Smog? The Court’s Shadow Docket Takes on a Case About Ozone
This Groundhog Day, there’s another shadow (docket) you need to keep your eye on. In a few weeks, the Supreme Court will consider a case about EPA’s recent rule regarding air pollution that crosses state borders. The impact of the new Court and its decision to hear oral argument on the shadow docket are both interesting features to watch in this case.
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Blog
Beware of the Plastics...and of the Companies Creating the Problem
What do you think when you see trash in the river or on the side of the road? Do you think: I wish someone would clean that up? Now, New York State is working to give folks a new way to look at that trash.
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Blog
Year In Review: 2023 at the State Impact Center
Take a look at what we accomplished this year at the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center! We reached a new milestone, served up a bunch of useful resources, shared our best staff recommendations, and gathered as a team for park clean-ups, outings, and more!
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Blog
A Missed Opportunity for Environmental and Energy Justice Engagement
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recently held its day-long Annual Reliability Technical Conference. Notably absent from the conference’s panels was any discussion of environmental justice, energy justice, or equity considerations, even though environmental and energy justice communities often face the harshest impacts from reliability and security issues during an energy crisis.
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Focus on the "Focused MOPR": Third Circuit Upholds FERC 2-2 "Action"
The Third Circuit kicked off the month of December with an order affirming a market rule that better accommodates state clean energy goals. This blog post breaks down the three significant findings in the decision.