CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS
Climate Bonds Initiative Releases Report Regarding the Climate-Themed Bond Market in 201267
Panel Addresses Coastal and Ocean Carbon Storage in Advance of Rio+20 Conference68
Union of Concerned Scientists Releases Study on How Corporations Have Influenced the U.S. Dialogue on Climate Science and Policy70
Washington State’s Rainwater Collection Policy Lets 12,000 Rain Gardens Bloom71
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
California Governor Signs Contested Assembly Bill Allowing Solar Project to Bypass Local Jurisdiction and Proceed through the California Energy Commission73
CLIMATE CHANGE SCIENCE
Recent Scientific Studies on Climate Change75
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
U.S. Geological Survey Releases Study on How Climate Change Affects Water Availability78
U.S. Department of Commerce Preliminarily Determines China Illegally Subsidized Steel Towers for Wind Turbines79
California Public Utilities Commission Agrees to Expand Its Net Metering Program80
California Department of Water Resources Releases Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions82
PENALTIES AND SANCTIONS
Recent Investigations, Settlements, Penalties, and Sanctions84
JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Federal:
Sixth Circuit Holds the Clean Air Act’s Citizen Suit Provision Does Not Authorize Citizens to Enforce Violations of Ohio’s State Implementation Plan86
Sierra Club v. Christopher Korleski, ___F.3d___, Case No. 10-3269 (6th Cir. May 25, 2012).
U.S. District Court Dismisses FEMA from Mississippi Flood Lawsuit88
Kmart Corporation v. Kroger Co. et al., ___F.Supp.2d___, Case No. 1:11-CV-00103 (N.D. Miss.)
District Court Holds EPA’s Duty to Promulgate Revised Clean Air Act Regulations Is a Discretionary Function90
WildEarth Guardians v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.Supp.2d___, Case Nos. 11-cv-5651-YGR; 11-cv-5694-YGR (N.D. Cal. May 7, 2012).
State:
California Trial Court Rules ‘Business as Usual’ Method of Evaluating GHG Emissions under CEQA Is Unlawful Where the Baseline Evaluating the Threshold of Significance Reflects a Hypothetical Scenario92
Friends of The Northern San Jacinto Valley et al. v. County of Riverside, Case No. Ric10007572 (Riverside Super Ct).
