In a joint press conference on September 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) released details of a new national suite of automobile standards that would mandate increased corporate average fuel economy (“CAFE”) standards and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions limits. [Read more →]

On September 2, 2009, Milford Wind Corridor, LLC (“Milford”) submitted a Petition for Declaratory Order requesting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) to confirm that it can retain its firm rights to use 1,000 MW of transmission on a generator lead Milford constructed itself in order to interconnect the full capacity of five planned phases of its entire wind project. [Read more →]

In a court filing on September 16th, the Justice Department announced that the EPA will reconsider controversial Bush-era National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for ozone, sometimes referred to as smog.  EPA plans to act on a very fast schedule, with a proposed new ozone standard by December 21 and a final rule by August 31, 2010.  [Read more →]

A coalition of environmental groups last week threatened to sue the EPA if it does not propose regulation of toxic metal discharges from power plants within 60 days.  [Read more →]

On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (“ENR Committee”) was never able to reach its 12-member quorum to begin a vote on the nomination of John R. Norris as commissioner of FERC. [Read more →]

On Thursday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (the “Commission”) Chairman, Jon Wellinghoff, named Thomas R. Sheets the new General Counsel. [Read more →]