We regularly produce original research and analysis that highlight attorney general work on clean energy and the environment and provide commentary on important and timely topics in these areas of work.
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Blog
Pigs Fly! SCOTUS Upholds State Sovereignty in CA Pork Case
Last week, SCOTUS upheld a California ballot initiative addressing animal cruelty in the pork industry against a dormant Commerce Clause challenge, affirming states’ authority to tackle far-reaching problems. The decision offers four key takeaways for states seeking to regulate complex environmental, energy, and climate issues that involve effects in other states.
May 17, 2023
Christine Billy -
Blog
Winds of Change: Developing a Domestic Supply Chain & Good Jobs in the Offshore Wind Sector
The buzz around the nascent offshore wind sector is palpable, with huge amounts of untapped power, waiting to be unleashed. But the U.S. lacks a domestic offshore wind supply chain, and the anticipated job growth will need to be accompanied by strong labor parameters in place to ensure that these jobs will be good jobs.
May 11, 2023
Mo-Yain Tham -
Blog
A Call from Communities to Remove Barriers to Access EPA's EJ Grants
A wave of community-based and resident-led organizations recently submitted comments calling for the removal of systemic barriers to participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program.
April 27, 2023 -
Blog
Growing Calls for a More Just, Climate-Savvy Farm Bill
There has been a flurry of climate justice advocacy in recent weeks—from social media posts to rallies at the capitol—around the Farm Bill. So what is the Farm Bill, what does it have to do with climate justice, and why does it matter right now?
April 13, 2023
Rachel Ramirez-Guest -
Articles
Not an Afterthought: Remedies Receiving Their Day in Court
“In the Courts” Column: There is news in the world of remedies for agencies that violate the law. These developments could have repercussions for any incoming president seeking to roll back the prior administration’s policies, as well as implication for parties seeking to avert environmental harms.
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Trackers
Tracking Pro-Environmental Federal Litigation by AGs
Updated April 6, 2023
This resource tracks pro-environmental litigation brought by AGs during the Biden and Trump administrations, breaking down the wins & losses during each administration. The tracker will be updated as pending cases are resolved and new cases are brought.
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Blog
Reduce, Reuse, and Reinvigorate the FTC’s Green Guides
Student Blog Series
You may not think twice about tossing a plastic bottle in a blue recycling bin, but there’s more to the “recyclable” label than meets the consumer’s eye. Behind that label is a complex set of guidelines—the FTC’s Green Guides—that should, but often don’t, guide when and how marketers can tell consumers that their products are recyclable, and they are finally being reviewed after a decade without updates.
March 23, 2023
Connor Fraser -
Blog
Waiting for the Hammer to Drop: FERC Considers Unneeded Pipeline Expansion
FERC is considering a request right now to let the Regional Energy Access Expansion gas pipeline expansion project begin construction, against evidence that it is not needed. This case will likely end up in court, with FERC yet again facing the music.
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Articles
In a Threat to State Priorities, a Broadside Against Standing
“In the Courts” Column: A pair of cases are pending in the Supreme Court that may stretch or upend standing and administrative law doctrine, with dramatic impacts on environmental protection.
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Issue Briefs
What’s in a Label? The FTC’s Green Guides in Context
The Federal Trade Commission is considering updating its Green Guides for the first time on over a decade; this comes at a crucial time, as research and litigation have revealed ambiguities in the Guides’ definitions of “recyclable” and other environmental labels, leading to consumer confusion. This brief explains what the Green Guides contain, how the FTC plans to reevaluate them, the interplay between the Guides and state consumer protection laws, and how this interplay affects regulation of “recyclable” labels.
February 23, 2023
Connor Fraser -
Blog
Stronger Regulations Might Be Just the Ticket
Recent freight train accidents illuminate the risks of rail transport of HAZMAT and the need for improved safety guidelines and practices, which AGs have long been advocating for.
February 23, 2023
Carlos E. Minaya Arnao -
Blog
States Face Learning Curve on K-12 Climate Curriculum
Though climate change has the potential to affect the lives of most school age children today, a recent study shows that schools do not have a standard curriculum on the topic.
February 9, 2023
Rachel Ramirez-Guest