On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) published its Notice of Availability of the 1st Analysis and Proposal of the Draft Proposed Program (DPP) for the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program (11th OCS Program), opening up a statutorily required 60-day public review and comment period on
In this episode of “Energy Law This Week,” hosts Matt Jones and April L. Rolen-Ogden discuss significant legal cases affecting the energy sector, including the Greenpeace case and a royalty class action lawsuit in North Dakota. They delve into the implications of these cases on the oil and gas industry, as well as
In late October 2025, a Paris civil court handed down a decision that could reshape how global energy companies discuss their efforts in climate transition. The court ruled that an energy company misled consumers through a 2021 rebranding campaign where the company promised to be “a major player in the
BOEM’s Final Notice of Sale (FNOS) for Big Beautiful Gulf 1 (BBG1), to be published in the Federal Register on November 10, 2025, will offer for leasing approximately 15,083 unleased OCS blocks located across the Gulf of America (GOA) – all, regardless of water depth, at the lowest allowable federal offshore royalty rate of
Louisiana is experiencing significant LNG plant construction activity, with several projects underway or recently approved. Construction projects in Louisiana are governed by a unique statutory framework known as the Louisiana Private Works Act (“LPWA”). The LPWA establishes the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in construction projects. The primary goal of the LPWA is
In late October 2025, Exxon Mobil Corporation filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California, launching a major constitutional and regulatory challenge to California’s landmark climate disclosure regime. The company’s lawsuit targets two statutes enacted in 2023: Senate Bill 253—the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and Senate
With anxiety looming over regulation of so-called “forever chemicals,” some industry players have proposed a solution: federal preemption. That was the response voiced by trade associations last month, as they answered an August 15, 2025 request from the Department of Justice and National Economic Council. The two agencies requested industry feedback on “Which State laws
Due to the government shutdown, which began on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) implemented their respective contingency plans that were prepared in the event of a lapse in government funding. These contingency plans essentially halt renewable energy activities while prioritizing
In this episode of “Energy Law This Week,” hosts Matt Jones and April L. Rolen-Ogden discuss the Texas Railroad Commission with Kelli Kenney, who is deeply immersed in the legal practice involving that agency. The Texas Railroad Commission is the earliest dedicated agency to regulate oil and gas, and it has been
In this episode of “Energy Law This Week,” hosts Matt Jones and April L. Rolen-Ogden are joined by LSU Law Professor, Keith Hall, to delve into the intricacies of carbon capture and storage, exploring its mechanisms, economic drivers, and regulatory frameworks. The discussion highlights the importance of federal tax credits as a