Frederick M. Lowther ● Whether it is the front page of the local newspaper or the cover of a national magazine (or just routine conversation), it is difficult to escape the fact that there has been relentless pressure to build more
Energy and Environmental Trends Watch
Energy and Environmental Trends Watch, published by Blank Rome, covers legal developments and regulatory updates in the energy and environmental sectors. The blog addresses topics such as federal energy regulatory decisions, environmental impact assessments under laws like NEPA, executive orders affecting energy policy, and state-level regulations on chemicals like PFAS. It also discusses litigation and policy challenges related to climate change, infrastructure projects, and energy development initiatives. The content is aimed at professionals interested in the intersection of energy law, environmental compliance, and governmental policy shifts.
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Latest from Energy and Environmental Trends Watch
FERC Issues Order Clarifying Data Center and Large Load Interconnection Procedures in PJM
Mark R. Haskell, Brett A. Snyder, Lamiya N. Rahman, and Emily S. Childress ● The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued an order on December 18, 2025, creating a framework for how large co-located loads, such as data centers, can…
FERC Affirms Texas LNG Export Project on Remand and Rejects Attempts to Enlarge Diminished Scope of Environmental Review
Mark R. Haskell, Brett A. Snyder, and Camila Thorpe ● The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC” or the “Commission”) issued an Order[1] addressing the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s (“D.C. Circuit”) second remand concerning Texas LNG Brownsville LLC’s (“Texas…
Climate Change Environmental Groups Challenge President’s Executive Orders to Expand Energy Development
Margaret Anne Hill, Frank L. Tamulonis III, Stephen C. Zumbrun, and Melissa A. Scacchitti ● We previously reported that President Trump issued a series of executive actions to fulfill his pledge to advance the United States’ domestic energy economy. These executive actions, such…
Supreme Court Scales Back the NEPA Roadblock to Infrastructure Projects
Margaret Anne Hill and Stephen C. Zumbrun ● Overview On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant decision clarifying the scope of environmental review required under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) for major infrastructure projects. The Court recognized…
Unleashing American Energy: Trump Administration’s Latest Executive Orders
Margaret Anne Hill, Frank L. Tamulonis III, Melissa A. Scacchitti, and Stephen C. Zumbrun ● New Executive Orders and Proclamation On April 8, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued three significant executive orders (“EOs”) and a fourth proclamation consistent with…
PFAS Bans Go into Effect; Manufacturers Attempt to Push Back on Regulations
Michael C. Lupton, Frank A. Dante, and Kevin R. Doherty ● Many states have enacted or plan to enact new regulations regarding the manufacturing of products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), also known as “forever chemicals,” because they do…
PFAS and Consumer Class Actions: The New Wave of PFAS Litigation
Frank A. Dante, Margaret Anne Hill, and Melissa A. Scacchitti ● With a new year has come a new wave of litigation involving PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals.” While PFAS litigation up to this point has…
New Jersey Appellate Division Makes Clear Experts Must Demonstrate a Scientifically Recognized Methodology
Jane Thomas Recently, the New Jersey Appellate Division, in Dorrell v. Woodruff Energy, Inc.,[1] vacated a 2018 judgment against Chevron U.S.A., Inc. (“Chevron”) that had found Chevron liable for gasoline contamination. More specifically, the Appellate Division found that plaintiff’s expert…
LNG by Rail: The D.C. Circuit Vacates a DOT Rulemaking and Outlines a Path for Challenges Yet to Come
Mark R. Haskell ● In Sierra Club v. United States Dep’t of Transportation[1],a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“D.C. Circuit”) vacated and remanded a final rule[2] issued by the Department of Transportation…