North Dakota judge finalizes $345m judgment against Greenpeace in pipeline case

A North Dakota judge on Friday finalized a $345m judgment against Greenpeace in a lawsuit pursued by pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET.N) over the environmental group’s role in protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The final judgment by judge James Gion was in line with a decision he issued in October, in which he slashed by almost half a ...Read More

Justices Will Decide Future Of State Climate Lawsuits

The case could determine whether climate suits are heard in state or federal court.

The Supreme Court announced Monday that it will hear a significant climate lawsuit in which oil companies are seeking to avoid being tried in state court. 

The fate of several dozen climate lawsuits brought against oil companies by state and local governments could ...Read More

Newsom’s Attempt to Streamline Development: Inside California’s New CEQA Exemptions and Fast-Tracked Review (CEQA Reform AB 130 and SB131)

On June 30, California Governor
Gavin Newsom signed the two most recent California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”) amendments, Assembly Bill 130 (“AB 130”) and Senate Bill 131 (“SB
131”). The bills collectively create new categories of CEQA exemptions, remove
sunset dates applicable to the Permit Streamlining Act, and create a new
process for environmental review for projects that do not ...Read More

Can California Accelerate Housing Construction? Newsom Proposal May Have a Chance.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a proposal to
accelerate housing development by removing regulatory barriers and streamlining
the permit approval process. This initiative, part of the May Budget Revision,
attempts to address delays in housing construction, particularly in high-demand
coastal and urban areas.

A central feature of the proposal is the alignment of the
California Coastal Commission’s permitting timelines ...Read More