Environmental Evolutions

In this episode, energy transition tax specialist, partner Barbara de Marigny joins host Megan Berge to discuss recent Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury. Barbara also explains the finding tool released by the Baker Botts tax team to help companies search comment letters submitted to the Treasury on potential IRA implementation guidance....

In this episode, environmental attorney Julie Cress updates host Megan Berge on new signals from the California Air Resources Board on the of future biodiesel and renewable natural gas under the Low Carbon Fuel Standards Program, which is responsible for spurring billions of dollars of clean energy investments.  More information on the Board’s LCFS workshops is available on the CARB website. Pleas...

In this episode, host Megan Berge , turns the microphone over to tax partner, Mike Bresson to provide a 15 minute run down on the opportunities the recently promulgated Inflation Reduction Act provides for wind and solar and the implementation to-do list facing the IRS. Located in our Houston office, please contact Mike with your tax questions.

In this episode, partner Aileen Hooks joins host Megan Berge to discuss forthcoming final guidance from the White House Council on Environmental Quality on carbon capture utilization and storage. Please reach out to Aileen can be reached for questions and the draft guidance is available here: federalregister.gov .

In this episode, host Megan Berge turns the mic over to energy transition tax specialist, partner Barbara de Marigny . Barbara provides a rundown of the five Inflation Reduction Act tax benefits that she is most excited about. If you have tricky energy transition tax question, you can contact Barbara .

In this episode, host Megan Berge and Special Counsel Julie Cress review the California Air Resource Board’s first steps in amending the low carbon fuel standard. Materials from the Board’s first workshop on the LCFS is available through CARB . If you have questions about the LCFS, you can contact Megan Berge or Julie Cress . Julie is a returning guest from our California 101 episode , a primer on...

In this episode, host Megan Berge , with partners Anne Carpenter and Alexandra Dunn , explores the intersection of three key movements affecting companies, their boardrooms, their employees, and customers: Environmental Justice (EJ), Environment, Social, Governance (ESG), and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) focus on climate disclosure. Their timely discussion touches developing me...

In an episode ripped from the headlines, antitrust partner Joe Ostoyich joins host, Megan Berge , to discuss recent articles questioning whether ESG violates antitrust laws.  If you have questions, more information is available on our Antitrust practice is available at bakerbotts.com . One of the hosts, Joe Ostoyich, is no longer affiliated with Baker Botts L.L.P.

In this episode, host Megan Berge talks with partners Josh Frank and Alexandra Dunn about new litigation trend – consumers bringing lawsuits against companies for not disclosing that certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are in their products. Recent cases impact fast food, cosmetic, grocery, garment, and – are determined to be in their fast food wrappers, cosmetics, or clothing. Reso...

In today's episode, we're showcasing another podcast called All Things Chemical . It recently featured Baker Botts Partner, Alex Dunn in an episode, exploring everything from changes in EPS approach to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act known as FIFRA and what's coming next in this area. Alex is the immediate past Assistant Administrat...

In this fast facts episode, host Megan Berge is joined by white collar litigation Partner Sterling Marchand to provide a run down of the key elements of the SEC’s newly proposed climate disclosure regulations. The proposed regulations are available on the SEC website: https://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2022/33-11042.pdf . The SEC is accepting comment on them through May 20, 2022. A client alert wi...

In this episode, host, and Baker Botts partner, Megan Berge and Director of Program Development at ClimeCo, Lauren Mechak answer the questions: What is a carbon offset?  What makes a high quality offset? And, what is the process for originating offsets? If you have questions about originating carbon offsets or carbon offset brokerage, Lauren can be reached at lmechak@climeco.com . ClimeCo is a glo...

In this episode Baker Botts Partner Emil Barth joins host, Megan Berge , to discuss the recent certificate policy statement that sets forth the factors it will apply in assessing applications for new natural gas infrastructure. Megan and Emil will also review the interim greenhouse gas policy statement which focuses on how FERC will assess, significance from greenhouse gas emissions going forward...

Why should you care about New Jersey’s new environmental justice law? In this episode, host Megan Berge speaks with Baker Botts attorney Scott Novak about the latest developments in the implementation of this groundbreaking state statute and what it could mean for other states and federal legislation. Listen in!   If you have questions about environmental justice or the New Jersey law, please cont...

Tax associate Ali Foyt joins host Megan Berge to share her top five insights from her recently completed 50-state survey of hydrogen state tax incentives.  Ali’s contact information is available through her bio at the link above and more information on our innovative tax practice is available at bakerbotts.com .  One of the hosts, Ali Foyt, is no longer affiliated with Baker Botts L.L.P.

Learn about the latest developments in PFAS regulation and litigation, as well as issues likely to emerge in 2022. Host Megan Berge is joined by partners Alex Dunn and Stephanie Bergeron Perdue for an update to their April podcast, “PFAS Regulations and Litigation Are Comping P(retty)FAS(t).

In this episode, host Megan Berge talks with partners Lily Chinn and Nadira Clark about their practical approach to helping companies develop or redevelop their approach to environmental Justice. More information, including videos, on the framework Nadira and Lily developed for in-house counsel is available at bakerbotts.com/ACELAS .    EJ Mapping Tools: California CalEnviroScreen was in developme...

Ever wonder where the authorities of the California Air Resources Board end and the authorities of the Air Quality Management Districts begin? In this next fast facts episode, California special counsel Julie Cress and partner Megan Berge provide in 15 minutes or less a primer on California's air regulatory regime. Questions about California air programs? Contact Julie Cress or Megan Berge .

In this episode Partner Bridget Moore and host Megan Berge discuss President Biden’s May 20 Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risks and what companies subject to disclosure requirements need to know now. For more information or assistance with this issues, please contact Bridget Moore or host Megan Berge . Documents discussed in this episode are available at: SEC’s 2010 interpretive gui...

In this installment of our fast facts series, host Megan Berge provides a quick rundown of the recently announced availability of more than $8 billion in loans for renewable energy transmission projects. Information on the loan programs, and associated guidance from the Department of Transportation, are available at fhwa.dot.gov , wapa.gov and whitehouse.gov . 

In this episode, Host Megan Berge and Partner George Fibbe , former Deputy General Counsel for Litigation, Regulation & Enforcement for the U.S. Department of Energy, flag for listeners key components of the recent Department of Energy proposal revising its process for undertaking energy efficiency rulemakings.  The proposal rule is available at federalregister.gov . For a deeper drive on the prop...

In this episode, host Megan Berge and Partners Stephanie Bergeron Purdue , formerly Deputy Executive Director at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Alex Dunn , formerly Assistant Administrator at EPA, discuss the latest developments in the regulation of and litigation about the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are known as PFAS. For more information about these developments...

In this episode, former acting chairman and commissioner of the FTC Maureen Olhausen and host Megan Berge discuss environmental groups’ FTC petition alleging that a fossil fuel company mislead customers on the climate and environmental impacts of its operations.  This episode is the next in our “fast facts” series, which aspires to breakdown recent developments and convoluted issues in 15 minutes...

In this episode, California tax partner Will Gorrod* and environmental partner Megan Berge highlight key elements of the clean hydrogen tax credit bill recently introduced in the California legislature by Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez—AB1312. The bill is the first of its kind in the nation. This episode is the second in our “fast facts” series. The goal of episodes in this series is to breakdown r...

In this episode, host, Megan Berge explores new incentives and potential policy initiatives for broadening deployment of carbon capture use and storage (CCUS), both domestically and internationally, with tax partner, Barbara De Marigny , and environmental partner, Aileen Hooks .  The website discussed in the episode, the Global CCS Institute, is available at globalccsinstitute.com . Aileen and Bar...