The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board recently posted its agenda for its upcoming two-day meeting, June 22 and 23. The most notable item on the agenda is a request by the Department of Natural Resources to the Board that it adopt proposed phosphorus rules (WT-25-08). As we noted in a previous post, the proposed rules are […]
Wisconsin Natural Resources Board Announces June Meeting Agenda
Date Fri, Jun. 11, 2010 - 9:17am By Hamilton
U.S. Senate Rejects Measure Overturning EPA’s Endangerment Finding
Date Fri, Jun. 11, 2010 - 7:28am By Hamilton
The U.S. Senate yesterday voted (53-47) against a resolution that would have essentially stripped the EPA of its authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act (CAA). Last year, the EPA issued two findings (known as “endangerment” and “contribution” findings), which triggered the EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the CAA. Under […]
Latest Study Provides Mixed Reviews for Wisconsin’s Civil Justice System
Date Fri, Jun. 4, 2010 - 11:13am By Hamilton
A new study prepared by the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) ranks Wisconsin 9th in its latest “Tort Liability Index.” On its face, the report appears to provide a positive snapshot of Wisconsin’s civil justice system. However, when using a different set of variables, i.e., tort laws and procedures on the books, the report drops Wisconsin all the way […]
EPA Sets New Air Quality Standards for Sulfur Dioxide
Date Fri, Jun. 4, 2010 - 8:28am By Hamilton
The EPA yesterday issued a final rule for sulfur dioxide (SO2) limits under the Clean Air Act. The new rule establishes a new one-hour standard at 75 parts per billion (ppb). In addition, the EPA is revoking the current 24-hour and annual SO2 primary standards because, according to the EPA, those standards do “not provide additional health […]
Report Studies Rise of Climate Change Legislation Throughout the Country
Date Fri, May. 28, 2010 - 2:12pm By Hamilton
The Institute for Energy Research recently released a comprehensive report studying the rise of states regulating climate change. The report, Energy Regulations in the States: A Wake-up Call, notes that the number of introduced bills regulating greenhouse gases throughout the country has nearly quintupled from 2006 to 2008, and the number of enacted more than sextupled. (See graph below.) […]
U.S. Senate to Vote on Resolution Blocking EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gases
Date Wed, May. 26, 2010 - 1:25pm By Hamilton
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has introduced a resolution to block implementation of the EPA’s regulation of greenhouse gases. According to news reports, the resolution is causing concern among environmental groups and the EPA because of the broad support the resolution is garnering (the resolution has 41 co-sponsors). It is uncertain, however, whether the resolution […]
Study Reveals Costs of California’s Climate Change Legislation to Economy
Date Tue, May. 25, 2010 - 10:36am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature recently adjourned without passing controversial climate change legislation, dubbed the “Clean Energy Jobs Act” (CEJA). All of the leading business and agriculture groups in Wisconsin believed the legislation would have significantly increased energy costs by forcing Wisconsin utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from higher cost renewable energy sources such […]
Obama Administration Announces New Vehicle Mileage Standards for Large Trucks; Extends Efficiency Standards for Cars
Date Fri, May. 21, 2010 - 8:24am By Hamilton
President Barack Obama will announce today a proposal that will require large trucks to increase fuel efficiency. According to TheHill.com: Obama is slated to issue a directive that expands vehicle mileage rules to include big trucks for the first time beginning in model year 2014. The president is expected to offer comments on the announcement […]
Gov. Doyle Signs Bill Expanding Renewable Resources Definition and Forms of Energy Eligible for Credit
Date Thu, May. 20, 2010 - 10:53am By Hamilton
Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law yesterday SB 273 (2009 WI Act 406), which creates a new type of credit under Wisconsin’s current renewable energy law. Under current law, electric utilities must provide a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable energy (10 percent by 2015). An electric provider may create credits if it sells […]
Court Dismisses Challenges to Air Emissions Construction Permit for Coal-fired Power Plant
Date Tue, May. 18, 2010 - 2:24pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Dist. IV last week issued a decision rejecting three out of four challenges by the Sierra Club to an air pollution permit for the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Weston, Wisconsin. In its appeal, the Sierra Club challenged a lower court’s decision affirming the Wisconsin Department of Natural […]