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About Us:
Welcome to the S&W Environmental, Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Law Blog. This blog is a resource for the regulated community to stay current on new developments impacting the environmental, natural resources and energy sectors. It provides timely updates on a broad range of federal, state and local environmental topics — including proposed legislation and government rulemakings — that impact regulated industries throughout the southwest and the nation as a whole.
Topics
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Recent Posts
Are Smart Grids Smart Enough to Prevent Cyber Attacks?
by Raymond Heyman As electric utilities move towards the implementation of smart grid software and hardware, an area of interest is potential exposure to cyber attacks. The electric grid generally refers to the network of transmission lines, substations, transformers and … Continue reading
Tagged Cyber Attack, Smart Grids
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Arizona Corporation Commission Presses Forward with New Energy Policies and Potential Updates to Energy Rules
by Michael W. Patten Over the past two years, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) has been considering how to address the rapidly changing electric energy landscape. Through a variety of proceedings, the ACC is reviewing existing energy-related rules, considering (and … Continue reading
Tagged Arizona Corporation Commission, biomass, electric vehicles, Renewables, resource planning
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Transportation Funding Via The Taxing of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
by Amanda A. Reeve Just as a state’s economic development and growth is impacted by its ability to build and maintain its highways and bridges and improve its transportation systems, so too is its air quality. After all, transportation conformity … Continue reading
Tagged AFVs, alternative fuel vehicles, Arizona, HB2536, NAAQS, tax, transportation funding
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Midterm Election Impacts on Electric Power Industry
by Matt Derstine Aside from deciding high profile Senate, House and governor races across the country, the midterm elections impacted a variety of electric power industry issues at the state and federal level. State Midterm Elections Mixed results on ballot … Continue reading
Tagged carbon tax, Climate Solutions Caucus, midterm elections, NextGen Climate Action, PURPA, renewable energy
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The Arizona Corporation Commission’s Landmark Proposed Energy Modernization Plan
by Raymond S. Heyman On January 30, 2018, Commissioner Andy Tobin submitted an expansive Proposed Energy Modernization Plan in Arizona Corporation Commission, Docket No. E-00000Q-16-0289. This docket, the “Review, Modernization and Expansion of the Arizona Renewable Energy Standards and Tariff … Continue reading
Tagged Andy Tobin, Arizona Corporation Commission, Energy Modernization Plan, renewable energy
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Green Cars: Reducing Range Anxiety and Increasing Incentives
by Kim S. Colton The “green car” market is growing. Tesla may lead the way in luxury, but almost all auto manufacturers are investing significantly in plug-in electric vehicles (EV(s)). Policy, law, and regulation must change as the EV market … Continue reading
Tagged Alternative Fuel Corridors, charging stations, electric vehicles, green car
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Hot Topics in Utility Regulation and the Spread Option Offense (Yes, American Football Can Be an Analogy for Anything)
by Jason D. Gellman In the 1980s, legendary head coach Joe Gibbs for the Washington D.C. franchise was tortured about how to deal with ferocious pass-rushing force and elite outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor for the New York Giants (#2 overall … Continue reading
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Arizona Corporation Commission Takes a Step Closer to Determining the Value of Distributed Generation for Arizona
by Michael W. Patten On October 7, 2016, the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Hearing Division issued a Recommended Opinion and Order (“ROO”) in the Commission’s Investigation of the Value and Cost of Distributed Generation docket (Docket No. E-00000J-14-0023). The ROO follows an … Continue reading
Tagged ACC, Arizona Corporation Commission, avoided cost, distributed generation, net metering, resource comparison proxy
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Rooftop Solar Companies and Utility Regulation
by Raymond S. Heyman Rooftop solar companies and their trade associations are intervening in a variety of state utility regulatory proceedings around the country. In Arizona, for example, in the past two years they have intervened in three rate cases for investor owned … Continue reading
Tagged Arizona, California, electric, Hawaii, rooftop solar, solar, Utah, utilities, utility regulation
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Renewables Sector May Reap Windfall from Paris Climate Summit
by Erik G. Nielsen On November 30, 2015, world leaders converged in Paris for COP 21—the United Nations conference on climate change. This is the 21st year that countries from around the world have come together with the goal of … Continue reading
Tagged climate change, COP21, Renewables, solar, wind
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