Developments

First Look: Clean Power Plan Replacement

Government
Agency
Energy

Replaces Obama-era regulation of GHGs from the power sector with modest efficiency improvement mandate that will curb GHG emissions by 1.5% below current projected levels by 2030.

Updated last August 23, 2018

for the 8/20/2018 pre-publication version of the ACE rule.

First Look: Working on Rewarding and Keeping Employees Resilient Act. (HR 6623, 115th Congress)

Government
Elected Body
Energy
Genetics/Genomics
Nanotechnology
Neuroscience
Robotics/AI

Provides funding initiatives to advance STEM education and worker training, retention, and advancement programs throughout the country.

Updated last August 17, 2018

for the 07/26/2018 version of HR 6623.

First Look: FERC Ruling in Calpine v. PJM

Government
Agency
Energy

Affirms that existing PJM capacity market bidding rules must be changed to adequately address subsidized resources, while rejecting two PJM proposals to do so, and suggesting framework around which PJM must adopt new rules.

Updated last August 9, 2018

Environmental Protection Agency's Rule Modifying Coal Ash Disposal Regulations

Government
Agency
Energy

Original Development Brief – Phase I of a planned two-pase modification of a 2015 rule regulating coal ash disposal under RCRA to allow coal ash waste site operators increased regulatory flexibility, diminish monitoring and remediation practices, and reduce federal oversight.

Updated last August 3, 2018

for the 07/17/2018 Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on 7/30/2018.

First Look: FERC Order 848 - Cyber Security Incident Reporting Reliability Standards

Government
Agency
Executive
Energy

Directs NERC to modify its Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards to broaden and standardize mandatory reporting of cyber security incidents.

Updated last August 2, 2018

for the 7/19/2018 Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on 7/31/2018.

First Look: NextEra Energy Resources v. FERC

Government
Judicial
Energy

Upholds FERC Orders approving renewables exemption to the minimum price offer rule in New England wholesale power market.

Updated last August 2, 2018

for the 07/31/2018 D.C. Circuit Decision.

Trump Administration's Tariffs on Imported Steel and Aluminum

Government
Executive
Energy

Original Development Brief – Establishes import tariffs on steel and aluminum in order to protect domestic producers.

Updated last June 28, 2018

Legal Explainer: Arbitrary and Capricious Review

Government
Judicial
Energy
Genetics/Genomics
Nanotechnology
Neuroscience
Robotics/AI

Explains the history and use of judicial arbitrary and capricious review for changes to federal policies.

Updated last June 20, 2018

First Look: White House Statement on Grid Resilience and National Security

Government
Agency
Executive
Energy

Escalates the Trump administration's efforts to bail out unprofitable coal and nuclear power plants by directing the Secretary of Energy to stop their retirement.

Updated last June 6, 2018

BLM Order 2018-034: Updating Oil and Gas Leasing Reform – Land Use Planning and Lease Parcel Reviews

Government
Agency
Energy

Original Development Brief – Revises and overturns a number of Obama administration environmental regulations concerning oil and gas extraction on Bureau of Land Management lands.

Updated last June 4, 2018

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