Emmett Institute faculty members submitted a comment letter on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Lamps. The authors argue that the Department of Energy’s efforts to narrow the reach of lightbulb efficiency standards would sacrifice consumer savings and environmental protection in a misguided attempt to thwart application of energy efficiency standards the market has already embraced, all in direct contravention of legislative mandates pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
Highly volatile and toxic pesticides are widely used in California agriculture to control soil pests for numerous high-value crops such as strawberries, almonds and citrus. The annual number of pounds applied to California fields in both 2015 and 2016 was higher than for any year since 1998. These pesticides present substantial health risks to farm workers, bystanders and nearby residents, as well as significant ecological impacts.
On October 23, 2015, EPA finalized emission standards for new coal-fired power plants under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air. The rule was intended to achieve reductions in pollution by setting emissions standards based on the level of emissions achievable by the best system of emission reduction. In late 2018, EPA proposed amendments that would weaken the 2015 Rule significantly.
On October 23, 2015, EPA finalized emission standards for new coal-fired power plants under Section 111(b) of the Clean Air Act. The rule was intended to achieve reductions in pollution by setting emissions standards based on the level of emissions achievable by the best system of emission reduction. In late 2018, EPA proposed amendments that would significantly weaken the 2015 Rule.
Improving the energy performance of existing buildings will be key to achieving California's efficiency and greenhouse gas emission goals. But owners of low-income, multifamily buildings face some of the greatest obstacles, including difficult access to capital, complex financing arrangements, and competing renovation needs. Residents in these buildings also experience a "split incentive" problem that limits owners' financial interest in upgrades that primarily reduce residents' utility bills.
The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether EPA permissibly determined that regulation of GHGs from motor vehicles triggered permitting requirements for GHG-emitting stationary sources. In this featured article from the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources' "Trends" Newsletter (Vol. 45, No. 4), Ann Carlson and Megan Herzog discuss the question currently before the Supreme Court and the potential impact of the decision.
Single-use plastics have infiltrated our daily diets—contaminating our drinking water and table salt—and have polluted our roads and waterways. Moreover, single-use plastics are created from oil and gas; the creation, slow breakdown, and incineration of plastics all contribute to climate change.
California has set laudable goals for ensuring that all residents have access to clean, affordable drinking water. Though the state has taken steps toward achieving these goals, they remain largely aspirational for many communities, particularly those that depend on small water systems in Los Angeles County and throughout California.
Senate Bill 100 (de Leon, 2018) requires California's major utilities to obtain 60 percent of their electric power from renewable sources by 2030 and 100 percent from carbon-free sources by 2045. California has met and exceeded its renewable energy targets to date, with over one-third of the utilities' electricity coming from renewable sources.
On October 29, 2018, Emmett Institute faculty submitted a comment letter with and on behalf of a group of nationally renowned experts on the operations of the U.S. electric grids, in response to the recent proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule in place of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). The authors write in firm opposition to EPA’s ACE proposal. The authors argue the ACE Rule reflects an artificially constrained approach to regulating CO2 emissions from power plants, one that fights against the operations of the U.S.