(Richmond, VA) – In a momentous victory for clean energy advocates in Virginia, a Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled today that the State Air Pollution Control Board violated federal environmental law in permitting Dominion Power’s coal-fired power plant in Wise County in the southwest corner of the state.
Md. Passes Strongest Carbon Cap in Country
ANNAPOLIS -The Chesapeake Climate Action Network today praised the Maryland General Assembly for approving strong legislation to address global warming in Maryland. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act, SB 278 and HB 315, will protect Maryland’s environment and economy while also spurring strong action at the federal level to address global warming nationwide.
DC Council Passes Clean Cars Act
WASHINGTON, May 13-A bill aimed at strengthening tailpipe emissions standards in Washington, DC became law today. The “Clean Cars Act” will regulate carbon dioxide emissions from all cars registered in the District beginning in 2011 and ensures that DC will greatly reduce its contribution to global warming.
Local Groups Laud Maryland Climate Proposal
DECEMBER 4—The Alliance for Global Warming Solutions – a coalition of local organizations combating climate change – today expressed support for the first report of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change. The report outlines early action items to decrease the state’s global warming pollution.
Another climate victory from the courts!
A federal judge in Vermont just rejected an attempt by automakers to block individual states from adopting their own standards for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks. This just goes to show us all that the argument that the states are making is a no brainer. Regulating greenhouse gases from cars has NOTHING to do with federal fuel economy standards. Way to go District court of Vermont!
California’s efforts to combat global warming with tough restrictions on tailpipe emissions got a boost Wednesday from a federal judge, who upheld states’ right to require that vehicles emit far fewer pollutants.
The complete article can be viewed here.
What’s next? Since the Supreme Court has already ruled in favor of the states, the ball is in the EPA’s court. The Clean Air Act allows California to set its own emissions standards, provided that it gets a routine waiver from the EPA. EPA’s granting of a federal waiver to California is thus the next step in the regulatory process. California has never been denied a waiver in past instances of other regulatory action, but in this case has still not been granted one even though they applied for it in December of 2005!
Governor O'Malley Joins RGGI
The Governor signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), in which Maryland became the 10th state to join the Northeast regional climate change and energy efficiency program.
Clean Cars Passes in MD 2007 Legislative Session
March 28, 2007 –The Clean Cars Act has been approved with no significant amendments by both the Maryland House and the Senate and is virtually guaranteed to pass out of Conference Committee this legislative session, which ends on April 9th. The Clean Cars Act regulates carbon dioxide emissions from all cars sold in Maryland and ensures that the state will greatly reduce its contribution to global warming.