Monthly Archives: January 2019

Carbon Free Boston — Or How to Save the World in a Few Easy Steps

Boston’s Green Ribbon Commission has just released Carbon Free Boston, which outlines a pathway to a carbon-free city by 2050.  It’s a thoughtful and careful report.  My immediate reaction was two-fold.  Of course we have to do all this and of course this will be nearly impossible.

The transmittal letter to Mayor Walsh acknowledges the immensity of the undertaking:

The report’s analysis makes clear the great magnitude of the change needed to achieve carbon neutrality.… More

Deadlines For Permit Issuance Are Double-Edged Swords

On Friday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that applicants for licenses under the Federal Power Act may not reach private agreements with states to circumvent the FPA requirement that states act on water quality certification requests under § 401 of the Clean Water Act within one year.

The facts are important here and somewhat convoluted.  The short version is that PacifiCorp operates a number of dams on the Klamath River. … More

Americans Are Increasingly Sure About Climate Change: That Appears to Include DOD

Two reports crossed my desk this week that, together, made me wonder if we’re finally nearing the tipping point on climate change belief in the United States.  First, Yale and George Mason released Climate Change in the American Mind. The report shows that almost 75% of Americans think global warming is happening and more than 50% are very sure that it’s happening.  More than 60% of Americans think it’s mostly caused by human activity.… More

EPA’s New Approach to Cost Benefit Analysis: Charles Dickens or Alice in Wonderland?

I’ve only now had the opportunity to catch up with EPA’s proposed reconsideration of its approach to cost-benefit analysis for the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards.  I don’t know whether I’ve gone down a rabbit hole or it’s just that the law is an ass.  Either way, it’s not good news.

As far as I can tell, EPA today does not really challenge the analysis performed in 2016 in response to Michigan v.… More