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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.
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Recent Posts
More Biogas Projects Set for Arizona
by Patrick J. Paul Avolta, a renewable energy company focused on originating, developing, owning and operating renewable natural gas (RNG) projects, along with its regional development partner, Atlas Global Holdings, LLC, recently broke ground on a RNG project at the Butterfield … Continue reading
Tagged anaerobic digester, biogas, cow manure, renewable natural gas
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The Utah Legislature Chooses “All of the Above” for a Reliable Electric Grid
by Denise A. Dragoo During the recent General Session, the Utah Legislature enacted several major energy bills which confirm the State’s continued investment in, and support of, both conventional and renewable energy sources. The Legislature consistently chose to promote “all … Continue reading
Tagged energy policy, regulatory streamlining, tax incentives, Utah
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Who Will Climate Change Advocates Begin Suing Next?
by Mitchell J. Klein As most people are aware, various public and private entities have filed lawsuits against fossil fuel producers alleging a variety of claims that seek to enjoin behavior and obtain damages as a result of the defendants’ … Continue reading
Tagged American Petroleum Institute, climate change, climate change lawsuits, fossil fuels, FTC, gasoline, oil
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Polar Vortex Highlights Problems with Texas Isolationist Model and Need for National Electric Grid
by Kelly A. Daly Following a week of extremely cold temperatures which caused millions of Texans to be without power, in some cases for longer than three days, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that it will be conducting … Continue reading
Who Owns Pore Space for Geologic Carbon Sequestration? Renewed Focus on Carbon Capture and Storage Likely to Bring Ownership Uncertainties on Western Split-Estate Lands Back into the Picture
by John W. Andrews The omnibus appropriations legislation passed by Congress in December 2020 contained notable bipartisan energy initiatives, including extension of tax incentives for renewable energy development, energy efficiency, and energy storage. In light of Congress’ strong interest in … Continue reading
Tagged carbon capture and storage, CCS, geologic sequestration, Safe Drinking Water Act, SHRA, Stock-Raising Homestead Act, Watt v. Western Nuclear Corp.
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FERC Begins to Flex its Jurisdictional Muscles on Carbon Pricing
By Kelly A. Daly Yesterday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) weighed-in on the important role that carbon pricing, associated with state initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, could have on the nation’s electric market. Not surprisingly, as the governmental … Continue reading
Tagged carbon pricing, Federal Power Act, FERC
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Trump vs. Biden: The Important Role that Climate Change, the Environment and Pollution Will Not Play in the 2020 Presidential Election
by Raymond S. Heyman We are just weeks away from the national Presidential election. The two major party candidates, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joseph Biden, could not be farther apart philosophically than they are on the important … Continue reading
Tagged 2020 Presidential Election, Biden, trump
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Ninth Circuit Wetlands Ruling Muddies the Waters for Development Nationwide
by John W. Andrews On Thursday, May 28, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to stay on appeal a lower court ruling which has already had a nationwide impact on permitting of oil and gas … Continue reading
Tagged 404 Permits, nationwide permits, NWP 12, oil and gas, Waters of the United States
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Impact of COVID–19 on Energy and Infrastructure Projects in Arizona and the West: Disruption, Slowdowns, Uncertainty and Virtual Open Houses
by Matt Derstine With states now modifying their stay-at-home orders and social distancing restrictions, the long-term effects of the Coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on energy and infrastructure projects remains unclear. But there have been several immediate impacts ranging from supply chain … Continue reading
Tagged coronavirus, COVID-19, energy, renewable energy, solar
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