Insights

A Role for State Attorneys General in a Just Transition

Resources Updated 5.25.23
Report Published 12.1.22

This report considers how state attorneys general (AGs) can help ensure that the shift to renewable energy supports communities and leads to good climate jobs. The report provides insight into the role of AGs, highlights recent AG enforcement of workers’ rights and environmental protection, and offers additional ideas for what state attorneys general can do in relation to a just transition.

What’s in a Label? The FTC’s Green Guides in Context

The Federal Trade Commission is consider 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.

Where Are We Now? A Year of Agency & Attorney General Action

This report looks at AG policy wins from the past year; reviews federal rulemaking progress during the Biden administration so far; and examines the importance of and obstacles to public input, as well as the role AGs can play in facing those challenges.

The Proof is in the Policies: 2021 Wins

After spending four years holding the line to protect our climate, air, environment, and communities, AGs have played an important role in bringing about many legal and regulatory changes on the federal front during 2021.

Are We There Yet? Getting Distributed Energy Resources to Markets

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order Nos. 841 and 2222 are two landmark orders which aim to open organized wholesale markets to new technologies in the transition to a clean energy future. This issue brief rounds up efforts to implement the orders, showing where there has been progress, where there have been delays, and what is at stake.

Follow the Leaders: States Set Path to Accelerate U.S. Progress on Climate

Bold state leadership has been the primary source of progress in the United States’ response to the climate crisis, and states will continue to play a critical role in a new era of climate action.

Congress: Opportunities for Attorneys General in Environmental, Energy, and Climate Policy

With environmental, clean energy, and climate legislation gaining traction in Congress, there are many opportunities and avenues for state attorneys general to advance their priorities.

Full Court Press: How State AGs Guarded Against the Trump Administration's Anti-Regulatory Agenda

This report highlights actions taken by state attorneys general to defend against the Trump administration’s anti-regulatory assault and build a cleaner, healthier, more just world for future generations.

A Pass to Pollute: Environmental (Non)Enforcement Under the Trump Administration

Under the Trump administration, environmental regulation enforcement has dropped to historic lows as a result of deliberate efforts to restrict and curtail federal agencies’ compliance monitoring and enforcement activity.

300 and Counting: State AGs Lead the Fight for Health and the Environment

State AGs have taken over 300 actions defending against the Trump administration’s assaults on environmental, climate and clean energy values.

State Attorneys General: Empowering the Clean Energy Future

State attorneys general are utilizing federal and state energy law principles across different forums to ensure that clean energy innovators have expanded opportunities to participate fully and fairly in electricity markets.

Climate & Health Showdown in the Courts

State attorneys general have bee vigorously fighting against the Trump administration’s attempts to replace existing rules that require greenhouse gas emissions reductions with new rules that unlawfully and harmfully negate those reductions.