Recent Articles

Thelen LLP to Disappear; Climate Law Update Loses Corporate Home

Dennis Pfaff
October 29, 2008 20:39

Thelen LLP, whose attorneys provided the legal know-how to build such iconic Western projects as the Golden Gate Bridge and Hoover Dam, recently announced that it will likely close its doors Dec. 1, a victim of "recessionary pressures" and other factors. One consequence, of...

In The News (October 29)

Dennis Pfaff
October 29, 2008 18:49

Growing acceptance of environmental challenges is making commodity-linked "cleantech" investing a hot spot, something to which "long-view investors might want to pay heed," according to this Barron's article. The Goldman Sachs Group and Blue Source LLC have...

Pennsylvania Moves to Boost Energy Efficiency

Dennis Pfaff
October 28, 2008 19:59

Pennsylvania, it seems, is making some pretty significant moves to improve energy efficiency in that state, and also to promote alternative energy use and development. In the past few weeks, the state's Democratic Gov. Edward G. Rendell (pictured) has signed legislation that he said would help save...

In The News (October 28)

Dennis Pfaff
October 28, 2008 18:58

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on a new rule that would weaken pollution regulations for power plants, allowing them to increase emissions without adding controls, with officials on a fast track to meet a Saturday deadline, reports McClatchy Newspapers. Rising...

Clean Energy Technologies Investment Outlook: Partly Cloudy

Dennis Pfaff
October 27, 2008 20:00

Anyone who can figure out the economy is probably too rich to be reading this, anyway, but a recent survey of reports conducted by a U.S. Department of Energy publication suggests the puzzling, if not downright contradictory nature of the situation, as it faces the clean energy...

In The News (October 27)

Dennis Pfaff
October 27, 2008 18:31

British scientists report the Arctic ice cap is now shrinking at record rates in the winter as well as summer, adding to evidence of disastrous melting, reports The Times of London. It would cost trillions of dollars, but the world could eliminate fossil fuel use by 2090 by turning to...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Going the Wrong Way -- Up

Dennis Pfaff
October 24, 2008 21:36

Some newly released data suggests just how difficult will be the battle to control emissions of gases believed to contribute to climate change. A new analysis from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that despite widespread concern about climate change, annual carbon...

In The News (October 24)

Dennis Pfaff
October 24, 2008 18:09

In North Carolina, Duke Energy has halved a $100 million plan to place solar panels on hundreds of rooftops after consumer advocates for the state's utility regulators called the proposal too aggressive and expensive, reports the Charlotte Observer. Meanwhile, Montana's...

Wind Up, Wind Down, Wind Over There

Dennis Pfaff
October 23, 2008 19:44

A series of recent reports and business developments serves to illustrate both the promise and turbulent nature of the renewable energy industry in today's challenging economy. First, for the promise. The American Wind Energy Association this week reported that the United States is on track to...

In The News (October 23)

Dennis Pfaff
October 23, 2008 18:13

Huge areas of federal land in the West would be open to geothermal energy development under a plan released by the U.S. Interior Department, which identifies acreage nearly twice the size of California for potential development, according to the Los Angeles Times. Find the...