Gibbons Law Alert

Gibbons Law Alert

Tagged: Clean Air Act

Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Carbon Emissions from Stationary Sources

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On September 18, 2014

Since the Supreme Court’s 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, it has been clear that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has the authority under the Clean Air Act (“CAA”) to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) from mobile sources because GHGs fall within the CAA’s definition of an “air pollutant.” When EPA sought to regulate GHG emissions from stationary sources (mainly power plants and factories), however, the Court sang a slightly different tune. In Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency (“UARG”), the Court rejected EPA’s attempt to regulate GHG emissions from stationary sources under two regulatory programs based solely on those emissions, while affirming the agency’s ability to regulate such emissions from so-called “anyway” sources that are already undergoing regulatory review because of emissions of other pollutants.

The EPA Seeks to Regulate Carbon Emissions from Existing Power Plants

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On June 9, 2014

On June 2, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) introduced new rules – via a 645 page proposal – designed to reduce the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases (“GHGs”) from existing power plants. Although this is the first time the EPA has proposed such standards, the EPA claims that it is empowered to do so under the ambiguous provisions set forth in Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act (“CAA”), 42 U.S.C. § 7411(d).

U.S. Supreme Court Gives Downwind States Breathing Room Under the Clean Air Act

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On May 7, 2014

On April 29, 2014, in EPA, et al v. EME Homer City Generation, LP, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and its controversial “Transport Rule” which curbed nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions in 27 upwind states. The Supreme Court held it was appropriate to defer to EPA’s expertise in crafting a method of implementing the Clean Air Act’s (“CAA”) “Good Neighbor” provision to reduce pollution from upwind states onto their downwind neighbors.

Supreme Court Closes Door on Global Warming Suits Based on Federal Common Law

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On June 30, 2011

Reversing the Second Circuit, the Supreme Court on June 20, 2011 held, in American Electric Power Company v. Connecticut, that the Clean Air Act, along with EPA regulatory action that it authorizes, displaces any federal common-law right to seek abatement of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from power plants. The Court’s decision means that for the foreseeable future, the debate over the proper scope of federal GHG regulation will take place in the executive and legislative branches and not the courts. It also leaves unanswered the question whether traditional state common-law remedies still have a role to play in GHG regulation.

CHeaP Grants Available from NJEDA: Stimulus Funds to Energize Combined Heat and Power Projects

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On September 13, 2010

If you are a NJ-based entity, do you have a power plant in the works? Are you thinking about a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant? If so, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has a grant for you if you act with alacrity. October 4, 2010, at 5:00 pm is the deadline for submitting an online solicitation for the competitive CHP grants. Grants are available for $450 per kW up to a maximum of $5 million per plant. All forms are available online.

Tic, TAC, No Dough for Innocent Landowner in NJ Who Sells Property Before Brownfield Grant

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Posted in Development/Redevelopment / Environmental and Green Issues

On July 20, 2010

Last year, the Appellate Division in TAC Associates v. NJDEP, 408 N.J. Super. 117 (App. Div. 2009) had held that an applicant under the NJ Brownfield Innocent Party Grant, N.J.S.A. 58:10B-5, need not be a landowner at the time of application for such Grant. In so ruling, the Appellate Division invalidated NJDEP regulations that imposed an ownership requirement, a requirement absent from the underlying statute.

This Rule will K(NOx)ck Your SOx Off – EPA Proposes New Clean Air Rule

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On July 7, 2010

On July 6, 2010, the USEPA proposed a new interstate transport of ozone and fine particulate rule for power plants. The goal of the rule is to achieve by 2014 a 72% reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and a 54% reduction of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from 2005 levels. The tri state area, like most of the states east of the Mississippi, is covered by this rule for both fine particulates and ozone. The sulfur and nitrogen oxides are fine particulates in the air.

Accounting for Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming in Financial Disclosures

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Posted in Environmental and Green Issues

On December 3, 2009

A troika of decisions should send chills through the halls of many utilities and corporations. The first horse of the troika is the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that says that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate greenhouses gases (GHG) under the Clean Air Act (CAA), 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., and can be compelled to do so. The second horse is the decision by the Second Circuit granting states the power to abate GHG under the federal common law of public nuisance. The third horse is the decision by the Fifth Circuit that takes the final step and states that private citizens affected by global warming have the right to bring private nuisance suits.

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