On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (“the OBBBA”), which modifies the environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) by allowing a project sponsor to pay a fee for the expedited review of an Environmental Assessment (“EA”) or Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”).
On May 9, 2025, the Trump Administration published an executive order (“EO”), titled “Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations,” that targets criminal regulatory offenses subject to strict liability, or liability that attaches without a required criminal mindset.
Louisiana has a new renewable energy law on the books, Act No. 279, set to take effect on August 1, 2025. It provides for the regulation of solar facilities, renewable energy batteries, and onshore wind projects, all under the permitting authority of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR). The solar facility piece
On May 29, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s decision that vacated the Surface Transportation Board’s (“the Board”) environmental impact statement (“EIS”) and approval of an 88-mile rail line to bring crude oil from Utah to the Gulf Coast.
Continue Reading Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of NEPA Reviews in Long-Awaited Decision
On May 21, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed environmental groups’ suit challenging EPA’s decision to grant Louisiana’s Class VI Primacy request, holding that each of the groups failed to establish standing to sue. Deep South Center for Environmental Justice v. EPA, No. 24-60084 (5th Cir. 2025).
Continue Reading Fifth Circuit Dismisses Environmental Groups’ Suit Challenging Louisiana’s Primacy Over Class VI Injection Wells
In this episode of “Energy Law This Week,” hosts Matt Jones and April L. Rolen-Ogden discuss recent cases in energy law, focusing on lease disputes, surface versus mineral rights, and the complexities of royalties. They emphasize the importance of written agreements, the implications of production and post-production costs, and the legal pitfalls
In this episode of Energy Law This Week, hosts Matt Jones, April Rolen-Ogden, and Liskow attorney Michael Rubenstein cover significant legal updates regarding climate change litigation and bankruptcy in the energy sector.
Continue Reading Podcast: “Navigating Bankruptcy in the Energy Sector”
On May 22, 2025, several environmental groups, RISE St. James, Micah Six Eight Mission, The Descendants Project, The Concerned Citizens of St. John Inc., Claiborne Avenue Alliance Design Studio, Inc., and JOIN for Clean Air, have sued Louisiana public officials charged with enforcing the State’s Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act (“CAMRA” or “the Act”) in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, alleging that the CAMRA violates their constitutional rights and is preempted by the Clean Air Act (“CAA”). RISE St. James Louisiana v. Burdette, (M.D. La. May 22, 2025).
Continue Reading Environmental Groups File Suit Challenging Validity of Louisiana’s Community Air Monitoring Reliability Act
In this episode of “Energy Law This Week,” hosts Matt Jones, April Rolen-Ogden, and Liskow attorney Michael Golemi discuss the critical steps and considerations involved in responding to catastrophic incidents.
Continue Reading Podcast: “It Broke, It Blew Up, and It’s On Fire: How to Handle Catastrophic Response”
In this episode of Energy Law This Week, Matt Jones and April L. Rolen-Ogden discuss significant legal updates in the energy sector, including Colorado’s pioneering regulations on recycling frack water and a recent court decision involving the Sierra Club and the Department of Energy.
Continue Reading Podcast: There’s a Reason They Call it “Master”: Why MSAs are Crucial to the Entire Business