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Author Archives: George S. Van Nest

Environmental Law: Biden administration green energy policies run aground after OPEC slashes oil production

As we have previously reported in this column, American energy policy and the focus on climate change have been a central tenet of the Biden administration. Shortly after inauguration, the president signed an executive order declaring climate change a crisis, ...

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Environmental Law: Biden Administration seems intent on forcing New Green Deal transition to renewables

As we have reported on previously in this column, climate change policies have been a focus under the Biden administration. Immediately after taking the oath of office, the president signed an executive order declaring climate change a crisis, initiated a ...

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Environmental Law: New York State budget attempts to pre-empt local municipal zoning regulation

The New York State budget often includes dramatic and striking changes to state law and policy. For example, in 2019, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo passed the sweeping Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that turns state energy priorities upside down ...

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Environmental Law: Biden administration proposes changes to National Environmental Policy Act regulations

On Oct. 6, the Biden administration announced additional steps to roll back regulatory reforms instituted by the Trump administration. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced that it plans to restore three central provisions of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) ...

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Environmental Law: Biden administration proposes major green policies under infrastructure plan

The Biden administration announced a major infrastructure plan captioned the American Jobs Plan in March 2021 with massive $2.3 trillion expenditures and a broad definition of what counts for infrastructure. The proposal addresses bridges and roads to an extent but ...

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Environmental Law: United States energy policy changes dramatically under Biden administration

As we reported on in this column previously, national energy policies were key issues in the 2020 presidential election. After a tumultuous election and inauguration, newly elected President Biden wasted no time dramatically changing United States energy policy. Within hours ...

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Environmental Law: Potential environmental policies in a new presidential administration

With the presidential election concluded and a new Biden administration on the horizon in 2021, it’s useful to look ahead to potential environmental policies that may be implemented. Although environmental policy changes from administration to administration, the switch from one ...

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