Tag Archives: AB 32
Litigation Update: Latest Round of Litigation Filed over County of San Diego CAP and General Plan Update Amendment
On March 16, 2018, the Sierra Club and several other environmental and climate oriented organizations (Petitioners) filed a Writ of Mandate in San Diego Superior Court against the County of San Diego. The Writ challenges the County of San Diego’s … Continue reading
Third Appellate District Upholds CARB’s Cap-and-Trade Auction Authority under AB 32
Today, the Third Appellate District affirmed the Sacramento Superior Court judgment from 2013 that dismissed two consolidated lawsuits filed by the California Chamber of Commerce and Morning Star Packing Co against the California Air Resources Board (CARB). These cases attacked … Continue reading
SB 32 and AB 197: Future GHG Reduction Targets and Oversight
The Legislature enrolled SB 32 and AB 197 on August 25, 2016. These bills create both the future target that will govern GHG emission reduction programs and a higher level of legislative oversight over the California Air Resources Board (CARB). … Continue reading
GHG Emission Targets v. Limits: The Constitutionality of Executive Orders S-3-05 and B-30-15
Recently, Legislative Counsel Dian F. Boyer wrote an opinion answering questions from State Senator Jean Fuller of California’s 16th Senate District regarding California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (commonly known as AB 32) and Executive Branch Authority. The nonbinding … Continue reading
Achieving Mandatory GHG Reduction under a Regional Independent Systems Operator
A structural question arises when evaluating the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) expansion. What will drive the greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in a regional independent system operator (ISO) or regional transmission operator (RTO) that spans multiple states and out of … Continue reading
Center for Biological Diversity et al., v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Newhall Land and Farming Company: the Burden of CEQA Land Use GHG Emission Reduction Analysis at the Local Level
The Center for Biological Diversity et al., v. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and The Newhall Land and Farming Company, 62 Cal.4th 204 (2015)(hereafter, the Newhall Land case) addresses three issues: 1) whether the project level environmental impact report … Continue reading
Estimating the GHG Emissions Impacts of Reducing or Displacing Electricity: Is it time for a standard method in California?
California has adopted legislation and has executive orders in place laying out aggressive, long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. There are also specific energy policies including those to increase efficiency, generate more renewable electricity, and to reduce fossil fuel use … Continue reading
COPs and CAPs: Goals for stabilization of carbon emissions
The COP21 talks and events started on Monday November 30, 2015. Though California is not a nation, and therefore not a member of the UNFCCC, there are 8 California lawmakers accompanying Governor Brown to the Conference. While the US government, … Continue reading
What is Business-As-Usual? Projecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Regional Level
Projecting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important because it helps us to assess how much the energy and GHG policies in place help to achieve targets set by law. For example, if we apply California’s AB32 target to the San … Continue reading
CEQA Greenhouse Gas Litigation San Diego County
This post summarizes the most important greenhouse gas planning lawsuits initiated in San Diego County and their potential implications for local planning. In Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Development (“CREED”) v. City of Chula Vista (2011) the City of Chula Vista certified a … Continue reading