EPA Announces Plans to Regulate Greenhouse Gases Under Clean Air Act
Date Thu, Oct. 1, 2009 - 9:19am By Hamilton
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson yesterday announced that the agency will not wait for Congress to act on regulating greenhouse gas emissions. In her announcement, Jackson stated that the EPA will take “significant steps” under the Clean Air Act to address greenhouse gas emissions. Under the plan, industrial facilities, refiners, and […]
U.S. Senators Unveil Climate Change Legislation
Date Wed, Sep. 30, 2009 - 11:50am By Hamilton
Two U.S. Senators that head the Committee on Environment and Public Works today are introducing climate change legislation. Based on early reports, the bill authored by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-California) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), will call for greater reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the House version, which narrowly passed in June. The […]
Alberta-Wisconsin Oil Pipeline Suit Transferred to Minnesota Court
Date Wed, Sep. 30, 2009 - 6:28am By Hamilton
We recently reported that the U.S. State Department granted a permit to construct a 326-mile oil pipeline from the Canadian border to Superior, Wisconsin. The Sierra Club opposes construction of the pipeline and is attempting to halt the project. The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in California, ostensibly to seek what the environmental group […]
Polls Show People Are for Reducing CO2, If It Doesn’t Cost Money or Jobs
Date Mon, Sep. 28, 2009 - 2:38pm By Hamilton
Two polls released last week show that Wisconsinites have seemingly diverging views on whether to address climate change. However, when the two polls are closely analyzed, it appears that there isn’t any discrepancy – people support actions that reduce climate change as long as it doesn’t cost a lot of money or jobs. The first poll, […]
Second Circuit Court Allows States to Sue Power Plants over CO2 Emissions
Date Thu, Sep. 24, 2009 - 9:13am By Hamilton
A federal appeals court this week ruled that eight states can proceed with their lawsuit against five power plants for their contribution to global warming. (State of Connecticut, et al. v. American Electric Power Company, Inc. et al.) The eight states, including Wisconsin, sued the power plants seeking abatement of “ongoing contributions to the public […]
Cap-and-Trade Legislation Would Cost Families $1,761 A Year
Date Wed, Sep. 16, 2009 - 3:46pm By Hamilton
CBS News is reporting that a memorandum prepared by the Obama administration shows that enacting cap-and-trade legislation would cost taxpayers up to $200 billion a year, or equivalent to $1,761 per household. Another memorandum obtained by CBS News shows the Obama administration transition team discussing the economic impact climate change policies will have. According to the […]
Gov. Schwarzenegger Increases Renewable Energy Standard – Wisconsin May Be Next in Line
Date Tue, Sep. 15, 2009 - 3:43pm By Hamilton
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week will issue an executive order requiring that state to generate one-third of its power from renewable resources by 2020. Currently, California imposes a 20 percent requirement by 2010. Gov. Schwarzenegger is expected this week to veto a similar bill passed by the California Legislature. The bill limited the […]
EPA Sued Over California’s Greenhouse Gas Waiver Request
Date Fri, Sep. 11, 2009 - 3:20pm By Hamilton
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Automobile Dealers Association on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. over the EPA’s decision to grant California a waiver under the Clean Air Act. On June 30, 2009, the Obama administration granted California’s waiver request for its greenhouse gas emission standards for […]
Status of Suit to Compel DNR Compliance with Jobs Creation Act
Date Mon, Aug. 31, 2009 - 10:49am By Hamilton
Dane County Court Punts Rather than Resolves Critical Legal Issues On April 28, 2008, a coalition of nine business groups filed a petition for writ of mandamus in Dane County Circuit Court seeking to compel DNR to follow statutory rulemaking procedures in connection with its utility mercury rule. On June 23, Dane County Circuit Judge […]
Global Warming Bill to be Debated in U.S. Senate Next Month
Date Mon, Aug. 31, 2009 - 9:47am By Hamilton
With most of the focus this month on health-care reform, the other extremely controversial bill (Waxman-Markey) — which would dramatically alter the nation’s energy policy — is likely to start ramping up again next month when the U.S. Senate reconvenes from its August recess. A Washington Post article (below) discusses how both sides of the issue […]