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Energy & Climate Counsel

Your one-stop resource for timely analysis of legal and policy developments affecting the energy and climate sectors. We focus on the issues that matter most to you, from federal and state policy and judicial decisions to business trends and financing news.

2024 Clean Energy Bill Addresses Massachusetts Natural Gas Policies
Blog January 09, 2025
2024 Clean Energy Bill Addresses Massachusetts Natural Gas Policies
The new law addresses natural gas through several different avenues, with some changes intended to limit the expansion of natural gas distribution systems in the Commonwealth…
Supreme Court to Decide Eminent Domain Case
Blog February 08, 2021
Supreme Court to Decide Eminent Domain Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a case that will have far-reaching consequences for interstate pipeline projects. The case, PennEast Pipeline Co. v. New Jersey, involves a FERC-approved natural gas pipeline that would pass through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PennEast invoked the federal government's eminent domain power under the Natural Gas Act to claim easements over New Jersey-owned lands…
Debate over Cybersecurity Oversight for Gas Pipeline and Bulk Power Systems Continues
Blog February 28, 2019
Debate over Cybersecurity Oversight for Gas Pipeline and Bulk Power Systems Continues
Earlier this month, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) Chairman Neil Chaterjee testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on issues related to cybersecurity in the energy industry. In his testimony, Chaterjee seemed to soften at least his messaging, if not his position, calling for increased mandatory oversight of cybersecurity for gas pipelines.  In a joint letter written last June…
Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Releases Far-Reaching Draft Legislation
Blog February 13, 2018
Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Releases Far-Reaching Draft Legislation
Yesterday, February 12, 2018, the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change released a Proposed Draft of legislation staking out an ambitious and far-reaching set of policies across a wide range of sectors. There is a lot in the proposal and we are still reviewing the details, including the differences among mandates, targets, goals and discretionary authority. For now…
Massachusetts AG Releases Study Finding No Need for New Gas Pipelines
Blog December 03, 2015
Massachusetts AG Releases Study Finding No Need for New Gas Pipelines
Last month the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office released a study concluding that no new gas pipelines are needed for electric reliability in New England, as the region is expected to meet its energy needs through 2030. The study arrives amid a debate regarding the role of gas pipelines in New Englands energy future. Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities ruled that it had the authority to allow distribution companies to pass along the costs of firm pipeline…
Massachusetts Attorney General to Undertake Natural Gas Study
Blog July 08, 2015
Massachusetts Attorney General to Undertake Natural Gas Study
Massachusetts Attorney General Healey announced that her office will lead a study to identify and evaluate options to address regional electric reliability needs in New England through 2030. As the Massachusetts ratepayer advocate, the AGs Office has traditionally challenged the efforts of Massachusetts utilities to raise electric and gas rates before the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The announcement that her office will conduct…
National Grid Joins Eversource Energy and Spectra Energy on Access Northeast: New England Grapples With How to Pay for New Energy Infrastructure
Blog February 20, 2015
National Grid Joins Eversource Energy and Spectra Energy on Access Northeast: New England Grapples With How to Pay for New Energy Infrastructure
Multiple news outlets (including the Boston Globe and PR Newswire) reported on Wednesday that National Grid is joining Eversource Energy (formerly Northeast Utilities) and Spectra Energy Corp. as a co-developer of the Access Northeast pipeline project.  The Access Northeast project, which Spectra outlined to the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) in June, is a compliment to previously announced expansions of Spectra's regional pipeline infrastructure (specifically the…

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Foley Hoag’s Energy & Climate Counsel blog aims to be your one-stop resource for timely analysis of legal and policy developments affecting the energy and climate sectors. We focus on the issues that matter most to our readers, from federal and state policy and judicial decisions to business trends and financing news.

Our authors, comprised of attorneys from the firm’s Energy & Climate practice, have been active in the energy and climate space for decades, counseling clients across the spectrum – from new, innovative technology companies to large utility-scale power projects. Recognizing early on the common concerns of the renewable and traditional energy fields, we established one of the first integrated practices to serve all segments of the energy and clean technology sectors. We believe this tight integration provides us with the insight to analyze the pressing issues, trends and opportunities that those in this industry have come to expect.

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