On November 10, 2025, EPA released a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), proposing to amend its reporting requirements relating to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). The original rule, promulgated in 2023, led to concerns by some
Inside Energy & Environment
Developments in law and policy of energy, commodities and environment
Inside Energy & Environment, published by Covington & Burling LLP, focuses on legal and regulatory developments related to energy and environmental issues. The blog covers topics such as climate change regulations, sustainability reporting, environmental compliance, green claims and marketing, deforestation regulations, and corporate sustainability due diligence. It addresses both U.S. and international regulatory frameworks, including EU directives and California state laws. The blog provides updates on legislative changes, enforcement guidance, and practical implications for businesses operating in sectors affected by environmental and energy policies.
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California AG Targets Plastic Bag Manufacturers for Misleading Recyclability Claims
On October 17, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced enforcement actions against seven plastic bag manufacturers for allegedly violating state environmental and consumer protection laws through explicit and implicit claims that plastic bags sold in California were recyclable. This…
State Greenhouse Gas Reporting Programs: New York’s Proposed Mandatory Reporting Program and California’s Existing Program
While the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is proposing to amend the federal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (“GHGRP”) to remove reporting requirements for nearly all sources, it remains important for companies to track developments and manage their compliance obligations with existing…
Spain Proposes Strict Sustainability Requirements for Data Centers
The Spanish Ministry for Ecologic Transition and Demographic Challenge (“MITECO”) has launched a public consultation on a Draft Royal Decree (“Draft Royal Decree”) that would impose strict energy efficiency and sustainability requirements on data centers in Spain. The proposed requirements…
Trump Administration Issues AI Action Plan and Series of AI Executive Orders
On July 23, the White House released its AI Action Plan, outlining the key priorities of the Trump Administration’s AI policy agenda. In parallel, President Trump signed three AI executive orders directing the Executive Branch to implement the AI…
EU Member States Agree on CSRD/CSDDD Omnibus Negotiating Mandate
On June 23, 2025 the Council of the EU, which represents the 27 EU Member States, agreed on its negotiating mandate for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”) omnibus simplification.
This follows the…
China’s Draft Environmental Code: Access and Benefit-Sharing for Chinese Non-Human Biological Resources – What Life Sciences Companies Should Know
Key Takeaways From California Air Resources Board’s Public Workshop on Implementing California Climate Disclosure Laws SB 253 and SB 261
On May 29, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) held a virtual public workshop to discuss forthcoming regulations to implement SB 253 and SB 261, landmark California laws that require many corporate entities to disclose their greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions…
Department of Energy Rulemakings Show What’s in Store under Trump’s Deregulatory Initiative
On May 12, the Federal Register put on public inspection a group of 42 proposed and final rules from the Department of Energy. The rules cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from energy efficiency standards to biofuel production to…
Will the Trump Administration Clear a Path through the FERC Regulatory Thicket for the Co-Location of Data Centers with Nuclear Generation? (Part 2 of 2)
The exploding demand for energy to power hyperscaler data centers is leading to consideration of co-locating new generation (nuclear or otherwise) and data centers. As we explained in Part 1 of this blog, co-location is attractive to hyperscalers because…