State Enabling Legislation for Commercial-Scale Wind Power Siting and the Local Government Role
Author
James M. McElfish, Jr. and Sara Gersen
Date Released
May 2011
State Enabling Legislation for Commercial-Scale Wind Power Siting and the Local

Wind power currently provides less than 2 percent of the nation’s electric power, but the U.S. Department of Energy plans for an increase to 20 percent within the next 20 years. Wind energy is a growing industry sector with the potential to transform much of the nation’s industrial and energy economy, while avoiding harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Mapping the Energy-Water Policy Landscape
Author
James M. McElfish, Jr., Read Porter, and Adam Schempp
Date Released
August 2010
Mapping the Energy-Water Policy Landscape

This publication identifies the laws and policies that affect water use in the energy sector within the United States. Water quality and quantity are integral to many energy production activities. Most thermoelectric power generation plants require substantial amounts of water for steam generation and cooling, while disposal of combustion byproducts raises issues of water quality. Likewise, the extraction of oil and natural gas using enhanced recovery techniques, and handling of injected and produced water, raise state and federal concerns for oil, gas, and geothermal energy production.

Siting Wind Facilities on State-Owned Lands and Waters
Author
James M. McElfish, Jr. and Catherine McLinn
Date Released
April 2011
Siting Wind Facilities on State-Owned Lands and Waters

Siting Wind Facilities on State-Owned Lands and Waters examines opportunities that states have explored for siting commercial-scale wind facilities on lands and waters that are government-owned. State trust lands and forests and the beds of rivers and the Great Lakes offer potential opportunities for wind power that can help advance state renewable energy goals. States own large parcels that may facilitate siting commercial-scale facilities; they also control lands that may be intermingled with private or federal lands suitable for wind development.

Virginia Offshore Energy Development Law and Policy Review and Recommendations
Date Released
December 2008
Virginia Offshore Energy Development Law and Policy Review and Recommendations

Virginia is facing various forms of energy development activities offshore and in the territorial waters of the Commonwealth. These include possible proposals for wind and wave energy, liquefied natural gas transport, and natural gas drilling on the outer continental shelf, among others. State laws and policies must deal with these activities and their anticipated impacts. Virginia’s Coastal Zone Management Program has provided support for this project by the Environmental Law Institute to examine the law and policy framework in place to deal with potential activities.

Securing the Promise of Nanotechnology: Is U.S. Environmental Law Up To the Job?
Author
Linda K. Breggin
Date Released
October 2005
Securing the Promise of Nanotechnology: Is U.S. Environmental Law Up To the Job?

Securing the Promise of Nanotechnology: Is U.S. Environmental Law Up To the Job? summarizes the output of a multi-stakeholder dialogue hosted by ELI and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, held earlier this year. The Dialogue brought together noted scientists, lawyers, and policymakers to examine how US laws and regulations, as well as additional means of governance such as voluntary programs and industry standards, can be used effectively to address the environmental, health, and safety implications of nanotechnologies.

The Greenhouse Effect: Formulating A Convention
Author
Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
December 1990

Based on the author's experience helping to organize the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and representing the United States at IPCC meetings, the report sets forth an approach to formulating a convention that is designed to gain acceptance by all the key countries. The suggested formula combines a set of initial targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions with an assessment process and a requirement that individual countries prepare national or regional strategies for addressing the problem.

Environmental Protection: Is it Bad for the Economy?
Author
Frank S. Arnold
Date Released
July 1999

This article reviews the evidence that can be brought to bear to verify or refute accusations that environmental regulation is too expensive, reduces economic growth, hurts international competitiveness, and causes widespread layoffs and plant closures.. In all cases, these assertions do not stand up to a careful examination of the facts. First, we do indeed spend a considerable amount on environmental protection, but not as much as we do on health care and national defense

Grandfathering, New Source Review, and NOx- Making Sense of a Flawed System
Author
Byron Swift, Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
July 2000

This article, which originally appeared in the July 21, 2000, issue of Environment Reporter, examines the current "end-of-pipe" methods of reducing NOx emissions and suggests that a better method would be investing in new, combined cycle natural gas plants, cogeneration and efficiency gains. The second approach would not only reduce NOx emissions but other pollutants as well.

A Better, Cheaper Way to Regulate Mercury
Author
Byron Swift, Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
January 1999

The best way to regulate the release of mercury to our environment is through pollution prevention — placing a declining cap on the use of mercury in products and processes. Such a cap could limit mercury releases to 10% of current levels from intentional uses, and 50% of process emissions by 2010. This approach would be far more effective than EPA`s current strategy based on emissions controls, because it achieves dramatically greater reductions in total mercury releases, and reduces the problems of re-releases of mercury from wastes.

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