Environmental Evolutions

Move over SEC, the California Legislature has Passed Landmark Climate Disclosure Laws

In this episode, host Megan Berge provides quick hits on California Senate Bills 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and 261 (the Climate Related Financial Risk Act). Each bill is focused on greenhouse gas emissions and companies' financial risks from climate change.

Listeners interested in reviewing Senate Bills 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and 261, the Climate Related Financial Risk Act, can find them at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB253 and https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB261.

For more information or answers to questions on the bills, please contact Megan Berge.

New Show Alert! Join me for the inaugural episode of Lawful Influence, hosted by Partner Sterling Marchand

Does a mix of law, politics, and sticky situations sound intriguing to you? Then join me for the inaugural episode of Lawful influence – a new podcast hosted by Baker Botts Partner Sterling Marchand. Check it out!

Lawful Influence pulls back the curtain on legal issues in the world of campaign finance and lobbying, as there’s no escaping the political influences that impact your bottom line. If this sounds like something you might be interested in – keep listening and subscribe to Lawful Influence on your favorite platform below.

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Attention Voluntary Carbon Market Participants, The CFTC Has Entered the Building

In today’s episode, Partner Michael Loesch discusses the CFTC’s growing interest in the increasingly crowded but thus far largely unregulated field of voluntary carbon offsets. The stakes associated with climate-related speech have never been higher as government agencies and activists alike are taking a hard look at how to provide existing regulatory and legal tools to carbon markets. 

Link to whistleblower alert issued by the CFTC.

 

Fast Facts on EPA’s Sweeping Expansion of its Coal Ash Regulations

On today’s episode, Megan Berge hands the reigns over to Partners, Kent Mayo and Martha Thomsen to discuss the EPA’s proposed legacy rule. A link to the rule is below and the comments close on Monday July 17^th. If you have questions about the proposed rule and its implications for your business, please contact Kent or Martha.

Federalregister.gov

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023: Debt Deal or Infrastructure Dealmaker?

On this episode of the Environmental Evolutions Podcast, Megan Berge is joined by Jeff Wood and Tom Jackson to explore the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. They'll dive into the key provisions aimed at approving federal energy and infrastructure permitting procedures, as well as the NEPA reforms included in the new law. 

The link to the law is below and if you have questions for Tom or Jeff, please contact them directly.

The final version of Public Law No. 118-5: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr3746/BILLS-118hr3746enr.pdf). 

Carbon Markets Creating Value Today and in the Future

On this episode, Host Megan Berge is joined by Partners Jason Bennett and Tom Holmberg to discuss the importance of data, scrutiny and integrity while creating value in carbon markets. For more information, reach out to Jason or Tom or visit bakerbotts.com.

Environmental Sustainability of Cryptocurrency with CMSSA President Cameron Rafati

On this episode, Partner and host Megan Berge is joined by Partner Allison Watkins Mallick and Cryptocurrency Mining and Staking Sustainability Association President Cameron Rafati to discuss the future of sustainable digital currencies. Covering everything from energy sources, grid stability, and permitting this episode dives into the regulations, impacts and innovations of cryptocurrency in today's world.

For more information, reach out to Allison or visit bakerbotts.com

Greenhouse Gas Standards for Power Plants: The Origin Story

In this episode, host Megan Berge takes the mic to provide a brief overview of the statutory basis for and origin story of EPA’s newly proposed greenhouse gas performance standards for existing coal-fired plants and new and existing gas-fired plants. A fast facts episode covering the guidelines will follow soon. 

Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants | US EPA

It’s Last Call for California’s Update to the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulations

In this episode, environmental attorney Julie Cress updates host Megan Berge on the California Air Resources Board’s upcoming adoption of the Advanced Clean Fleets Rule. This rule has broad impacts across the medium and heavy duty transportation sector in California and is another part of California’s aggressive push to electrify the transportation sector. More information on the rulemaking and how to get involved is available on the CARB website. Please contact Julie for more information on California’s mobile source regulations.

Links to Julie's past episodes:
Changes are Coming to the California LCFS
New Signals on California’s LCFS Amendments

What We are Watching in 2023

In today's episode, Megan asks a cross section of Environmental, Safety, and Incident Response lawyers from a variety of offices one important question: what issue or issues is on their mind for 2023?

As a bonus, each lawyer shared one fun fact about themselves so that you can learn a little bit more about the amazing people at Baker Botts.

For further information on these topics or suggestions for future episodes, please email Megan at megan.berge@bakerbotts.com.