🚨We're excited to announce our initial launch of the Bias-Corrected and Downscaled Massive Ensemble (BCD-ME), the largest collection of analysis-ready future temperature data out there, ideal for getting a better sense of what's driving the _climate_ spread in climate impact projections!
🧵 below:
If you wake up in the morning and read about new rules in the Federal Register (admin law nerds) or news (everybody else) and find yourself asking, "is that . . . legal?" then this afternoon's webinar is for you. We'll be discussing major deregulatory trends over the past year (and their legality).
The op-ed that Pello and I wrote last year covers this issue in depth: thehill.com/opinion/ener...
Table 2-14 from EPA's RIA on the 2024 MATS RTR repeal, estimating the anticipated effect of the repeal on retail electricity prices. The table shows the repeal is expected to have a 0.0% effect on electricity prices in 2028, 2030, and 2035.
Trump just repealed Biden-era coal plant emissions standards for mercury and other hazardous pollutants, in the name of affordability. In reality, the repeal is expected to have a 0.0% impact on electricity prices. The repeal's cost savings will go to industry, and we will pay with our health.
The Dept of Education is now accepting comments on a proposed rule that would overhaul Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and make it too expensive for students to go into work that threatens the Trump administration
Folks have til *Sept. 17* to oppose the changes
ballsandstrikes.org/legal-cultur...
This labor of love is out in the world! Our findings show that the original sin of the Clean Air Act - the grandfathering of existing sources - led to increased SO2 emissions and utilization of grandfathered plants decades later, despite later regulations meant to correct the problem.
Calling law students 🎙️ 🏛️ Are you interested in #environmental law, #energy law, environmental justice, or regulatory #policy? We’re hiring for several research assistant positions that start this fall semester. ⚡🏛️ 🌎 Apply now!
policyintegrity.org/about/jobs
Money saved by ditching a set of Biden-era air pollution standards will remain in coal plant owners’ pockets and not translate into more affordable power for households—according to EPA's own analysis.
Pello Aspuru and Bridget Pals explain on @thehill.com.
thehill.com/opinion/ener...
@pelloaspuru.bsky.social and I explain how EPA's own analysis shows industry will pocket every penny saved by rolling back Biden-era updates to mercury and air toxics coal plant standards. The public will bear all of the health costs but none of the cost-savings.
thehill.com/opinion/ener...
We just updated our study on court challenges to major federal rules. Our Don Goodson and Bridget Pals write about some of key findings here. ⬇️
thehill.com/opinion/judi...
We need reform. Options include returning cases to the D.C. Circuit (which used to hear the majority of challenges to major rules), or randomly selecting a venue for such cases. The status quo undermines faith in the judiciary. \end
In comparison, the first Trump Administration won 28% of cases filed in Second and Ninth Circuit courts, and 54% of cases outside those circuits. While both administrations saw the effects of forum-shopping, the effects appear more pronounced for Biden than for Trump. \4
This forum shopping made a difference. The Biden Administration lost nearly 80% of cases against major rules filed in Fifth Circuit courts, while winning 68% of all other such cases. \3
During the Biden Administration, 40% of cases against major rules were filed in Fifth Circuit courts (compared to <10% over the prior four administrations), and 16% of major rules ended up in front of just two Texas judges. \2
We at Policy Integrity recently concluded our analysis of major rules in the courts through the Biden Administration. Links below to our study and op-ed. The bottom line? Forum-shopping has skyrocketed and is having an effect. \1
policyintegrity.org/tracking-maj...
thehill.com/opinion/judi...
There is currently an NWS flash flood warning in effect for all five boroughs of NYC.
But no City agency has posted it on this platform.
Please help spread the word.
“If you live in a basement apartment or low-lying area, be ready to move to higher ground.”
For notice-and-comment to mean anything, an agency must share the rationale behind its proposal. In this piece, Max Sarinsky and I explain why barebones rescissions where agencies fail to show their work - like DOE's proposed energy and water efficiency rollbacks - fall short of APA requirements.
The Trump Administration has unleashed a slew of harmful deregulatory actions in its first few months. To help make sense of it all, we’ve published a suite of resources and commentary explaining the legal, economic, and policy context of these actions. 🔽
policyintegrity.org/recent-feder...
Many view the major questions doctrine as an anti-regulatory tool. But our Kelly McGee explains in a blog that it's actually an interpretive tool applying in extraordinary cases of unheralded, transformative, and vast agency action—including the President's tariffs
www.yalejreg.com/nc/the-major...
✨ Just accepted ✨ in @jaereaere.bsky.social:
"Still your grandfather’s boiler: Estimating the effects of the Clean Air Act’s grandfathering provisions" by Sylwia Bialek-Gregory, Richard L. Revesz, Jack Gregory, & Bridget Pals (@bridgetpals.bsky.social)
Read it here: buff.ly/49R8y4I
#EconSky 📈📉
Last month, we submitted comments urging @osha-dol.bsky.social to finalize its proposed heat protections for workers. The rules, which would create significant health and safety benefits, can be used as a model for states, even if they aren't finalized by OSHA.
policyintegrity.org/projects/upd...
We are pleased to announce that Don Goodson will become our next Executive Director on January 1st! 🎉 Don succeeds Dr. Burçin Ünel who is stepping down to focus more of her time on our academic research and policy engagement. Read our full statement here: policyintegrity.org/files/media/...
The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow in a case that could have BIG implications for environmental law
thehill.com/policy/energ...
3/ Brief available here: policyintegrity.org/projects/upd...
Cliff notes version here: medium.com/policy-integ...
2/ In short, in non-environmental contexts, courts routinely require agencies to consider less-than-certain and indirect effects. It cannot be that NEPA - which mandates agencies to develop methodologies to weigh environmental effects alongside economic factors - is less exacting.
1/ With oral argument for Seven County tomorrow, the future strength of NEPA hangs in the balance. In our brief, @jessiearnell.bsky.social, Jason Schwartz, and I explained how Petitioners' proposed NEPA standards contravene basic principles of reasoned analysis.
Nobody: …
D.C. Circuit: CEQ’s NEPA regulations are an unauthorized exercise of power. No more CEQ NEPA regs!
I'm gonna need a bigger binder.