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Legal Planet

@legal-planet.org
570 followers 28 following 486 posts

Legal Planet is a leading source of climate policy and environmental law insights, translating the latest developments in a way that’s understandable. Legal Planet is a collaboration between faculty at UCLA School of Law and UC Berkeley School of Law.

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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 13h
"Justice Gorsuch is wrong about the cure, but delegation has gotten out of hand." @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/30/g...
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Gorsuch is (Partly) Right - Legal Planet
Broad delegations like those dealing with emergencies and national security invite abuse. Gorsuch is right about this, but not the cure.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 13h
The latest MacArthur Fellows include Holly Jean Buck, a sociologist and energy policy researcher investigating the social, ethical, and political dimensions of emerging climate policies. legal-planet.org/2026/09/29/t...
legal-planet.org
The Emmett Institute Celebrates Our “Genius” Alumna, Holly Buck - Legal Planet
The latest MacArthur Fellows include Holly Jean Buck, a sociologist investigating the social, ethical, and political dimensions of emerging climate policies.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 29/09/2026
Two courts vacated U.S. EPA’s termination of solar funds. Guest contributor Adam Earl King outlines what to watch for on appeal. legal-planet.org/2026/09/29/s...
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'Solar for All' Victories and the Future of Grantee Litigation - Legal Planet
Guest contributor Adam Earl King is a student at The University of Texas School of Law (JD ’27) and a Summer ’26 Legal Research Assistant at UC Berkeley’s CLEE. This time last year, local-government a...
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UCLA Emmett Institute @uclalawemmett.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The U.S. Department of Transportation just issued new fuel economy standards. When first proposed, our resident fuel economy expert Ann Carlson described the standards as ‘audaciously, aggressively awful.” The final standards are too, she explains. A thread ⬇️
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 28/09/2026
The Trump administration unveiled new CAFE standards that actually make cars LESS fuel efficient, defy Congressional intent, and increase air and climate pollution. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/28/w...
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Who Cares About Affordability and Gas Prices? Not DOT - Legal Planet
The Trump administration's new CAFE standards actually make cars LESS fuel efficient, defy Congressional intent, and increase pollution.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 28/09/2026
Facing climate disasters, the GCF Task Force is putting the network theory of governance into practice. legal-planet.org/2026/09/28/w...
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By Our Powers Combined, We Are Captain Planet
I don’t need to tell you that the last several months have seen an increasing number of climate-related disasters, including severe heatwaves throughout Europe and droughts that are impacting water su...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 24/09/2026
"Climate World descended on New York City this week, but I stayed home and read books instead." A #NewYorkClimateWeek reading list from The Drain. legal-planet.org/2026/09/24/i...
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I Skipped NY Climate Week and Read These Books Instead - Legal Planet
Go read "The Carbon Wave" by Leah Stokes. The Drain is a roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 24/09/2026
Whenever he wants to roll back environmental protections, Trump cooks up a new national security justification. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/24/n...
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"National Security" is Becoming a Punch Line - Legal Planet
Whether it's emitting toxics, halting windmill projects, or threatening endangered whales, national security is always the excuse.
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UCLA Emmett Institute @uclalawemmett.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Find much more legal analysis and even some (gasp) predictions about how the court could rule here: legal-planet.org/2026/09/08/l...
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The Legal Planet Guide to Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County - Legal Planet
UCLA Law experts explain everything you need to know about Suncor v. Boulder as the climate case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 22/09/2026
Some big environmental battles are brewing in Sacramento. But where will the next Governor stand? "It’s time for the gubernatorial candidates to start plugging in." legal-planet.org/2026/09/22/w...
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Whither the Governor’s Mansion? - Legal Planet
Some big environmental battles are brewing in Sacramento. But where will the next Governor stand?
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 21/09/2026
UCLA law clinics just filed a new brief in the “Mecheros” case. The Human Rights Litigation Clinic and Environmental Law Clinic represent law experts in a long-running case that seeks to stop harmful gas flaring in Ecuador. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/21/u...
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UCLA Law Clinics File Brief in the “Mecheros” Case - Legal Planet
Two UCLA Law clinics represent experts in a long-running case that seeks to stop harmful gas flaring in Ecuador.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 19/09/2026
Guest contributors V. Ram Ramanathan, Durwood Zaelke, and Marcelo Suárez-Orozco write that we can cut the rate of warming by 30% to 50% within 15 years. “And we must.” It's an article informed by a presentation Ramanathan is set to give at the Vatican next week. legal-planet.org/2026/09/19/t...
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The Overlooked Fast Track for Cutting Planetary Warming - Legal Planet
Guest contributors V. Ram Ramanathan, Durwood Zaelke, and Marcelo Suárez-Orozco write that we can, and must, cut the rate of warming by 30% to 50%.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 17/09/2026
A challenge has already been filed opposing EPA's repeal of rules that limit planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. legal-planet.org/2026/09/17/t...
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The EPA Power Plant Rule Repeal Don’t Make No Sense  - Legal Planet
The hair-on-fire news this week was from the Environmental Protection Agency. The Drain is a roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 15/09/2026
Groups on the frontlines fighting deforestation are held back by institutional constraints – not just technological barriers – according to a new study from UCLA and others. Our deep dive on what is holding civil servants back: legal-planet.org/2026/09/15/t...
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The Bottleneck in Forest Monitoring Isn't in Orbit - Legal Planet
Groups on the frontlines fighting deforestation are held back by institutional constraints, according to a study from UCLA, NYU, World Resources Institute, and the GCF Task Force.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 11/09/2026
As Gov. Gavin Newsom’s term ends, these two bills present an opportunity to promote ratepayer affordability. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social on AB 2313 and SB 1359. legal-planet.org/2026/09/11/s...
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Two Wins from this Legislative Session — Awaiting Newsom - Legal Planet
As Gov. Gavin Newsom’s term ends, these AB 2313 and SB 1359 present an opportunity to promote ratepayer affordability.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 11/09/2026
California — the resilient state. Really! In the midst of a historic heat wave, the state’s power grid has so far passed with flying colors. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/11/c...
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California - The Resilient State. Really. - Legal Planet
Remember rolling blackouts in California? At least at this point, they appear to be a thing of the past. Earlier today, I noticed a tweet from Cody Hill, who refers to himself as a “batteries and clea...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 11/09/2026
The UN Environment Programme’s new report, “Limiting Overshoot” was simultaneously big news and met with stony silence in many quarters of the media. @evanlgeorge.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/10/g...
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Good News from Turkmenistan! Bad News from the UN - Legal Planet
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — this week, like most weeks. The UN Environment Programme’s new report, “Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways toward ret...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 11/09/2026
About the best Trump can hope for in the long run is to maintain the status quo. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/10/t...
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The Dim Outlook for Trump Energy Dominance - Legal Planet
The baseline prediction is longterm stagnation in oil markets and growth in natural gas driven by exports. That's probably too optimistic.
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Evan George @evanlgeorge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This week on The Drain: Bad news from the UN but good news about methane leaks in Turkmenistan - and great news about environmental media expansions at @canarymedia.com (a @jeffstjohn.bsky.social newsletter!) the Washington Sun, and @grist.org's local news initiative legal-planet.org/2026/09/10/g...
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Good News from Turkmenistan! Bad News from the UN - Legal Planet
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — this week, like most weeks. The UN Environment Programme’s new report, “Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways toward ret...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 08/09/2026
UCLA Law experts explain everything you need to know about Suncor v. Boulder as the climate case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/08/l...
legal-planet.org
The Legal Planet Guide to Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County - Legal Planet
UCLA Law experts explain everything you need to know about Suncor v. Boulder as the climate case heads to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 08/09/2026
The Wall Street Journal is a conservative business outlet but its news coverage of EVs is surprisingly positive. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/08/w...
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Word on The Street - Legal Planet
The Wall Street Journal's news coverage of electric vehicles is a lot more positive than you might expect from a conservative business outlet.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 04/09/2026
What in the world is happening at Nature? Its recent editorial about Jason Arday should make us wonder whether academia adds value to anything, writes Jonathan Zasloff. legal-planet.org/2026/09/04/w...
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What In The World Is Happening At Nature? - Legal Planet
By now, the tragic story of Jason Arday is well-known. But it seems that many people are doing their best to not learn anything from it. In this case, “many people” seems to be the editorial board of ...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 04/09/2026
A judge just smacked down EPA’s attempt to revoke six of California’s waivers. And she calls EPA’s legal arguments Orwellian. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/04/j...
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Judge Smacks Down EPA's Attempt to Revoke Six of California's Waivers - Legal Planet
Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is having none of EPA’s shenanigans in the agency’s most recent attempt to revoke four of California’s waivers to cut polluti...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 04/09/2026
How will the Supreme Court’s opinion impact environmental standing? @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/03/s...
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Strictly Ballroom - Legal Planet
Given the facts as the Court presented them, its ruling that there was no standing in the ballroom cases shouldn't impact environmental law.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 04/09/2026
Streamlining is good but shouldn’t become an excuse for just ignoring the environment. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/09/03/p...
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Moving Environment Assessment Outside the Permit Process - Legal Planet
There's a lot to be said for permit reform, but we need to avoid throwing out the environment a baby with the procedural bathwater.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 31/08/2026
These four races in California could help determine which party ends up with control of the House. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/31/f...
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Four Tight House Races in California - Legal Planet
Only four congressional districts in California are in play. Democrats have the edge, but the Republicans have a real shot at winning.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 28/08/2026
President Trump just changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. Why stop there? For instance, he could also change "atmosphere" to "manosphere," writes @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/28/t...
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The Logical Next Step After Renaming Lake Ontario - Legal Planet
President Trump just changed Lake Ontario to Lake America. Why stop there? Why not change "atmosphere" to "manosphere"?
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Alejandro Camacho @alejandrocamacho.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
This case should be a slam dunk for a local government to just be able to go to court to seek compensation from fossil fuel companies for harm they have caused. Can we trust the Supreme Court to get it right?
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 27/08/2026
U.S. clean energy has taken a major hit but not a fatal one. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/27/w...
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What We Know About Trump’s Impact on Clean Energy - Legal Planet
Parts of Biden's climate legacy survive, despite Trump. It's not that easy to kill off energy technologies that are sweeping the world.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 26/08/2026
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently held public hearings to reconsider, or strip, some of the California Coastal Commission’s long-standing powers. Here is what's really going. @evanlgeorge.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/26/t...
legal-planet.org
The Attack on California’s Coast Puts Us in Uncharted Waters - Legal Planet
California is staring down a rare convergence of threats. The Drain is a roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 21/08/2026
Want to expand the availability of deed-restricted affordable units? Build market-rate ones. legal-planet.org/2026/08/21/a...
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A Mile High Solution To Housing Affordability? - Legal Planet
One of the most dispiriting debates in housing policy and land use concerns the relative merits of deed-restricted affordable versus market-rate housing. YIMBY advocates argue building more market-rat...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 21/08/2026
AB 2385 would have helped local governments prepare for disaster recovery, but the bill failed to make it out of the Senate Appropriations Committee. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/21/h...
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El Niño is Coming. Californians Still Need Better Tools to Recover from Disaster. - Legal Planet
AB 2385 would have helped local governments prepare for disaster recovery, but the bill failed to make it out of committee.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 18/08/2026
Stabilizing the cost of electricity is playing big into political campaigns. "In fact, energy affordability and data center opposition are among the most potent political messages in 2026." @evanlgeorge.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/08/18/p...
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Paying More to Stay Cool, Super El Niño, Solar Politics - Legal Planet
Energy affordability and data center opposition are among the most potent political messages in 2026. The Drain is a roundup of climate news.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 17/08/2026
"Welcome to law school. You’re beginning your life in the law at a critical time." Today’s entering law students are preparing to start careers at a critical time for the environment. @dfarber1950.bsky.social's Dear 2026 1L. legal-planet.org/2026/08/17/d...
legal-planet.org
Dear 2026 1L - Legal Planet
Today's entering law students are tomorrow's environmental and energy lawyers. They're urgently needed in this time of crisis.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 14/08/2026
A new clean energy PAC called Invest in Tomorrow Coalition, has become a big player in GOP primaries. But what happens in November? More from Jonathan Zasloff @uclalawemmett.bsky.social. legal-planet.org/2026/08/14/d...
legal-planet.org
Don't Mess With Solar - Legal Planet
Congressmember Andy Ogles of Tennessee is a zit on the face of American politics: a white nationalist and Islamophobe who started out as a flunkie for the Koch Brothers and lied about his credentials ...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 11/08/2026
The Drain is back with climate change at SCOTUS, electrification victories, and notable media moves. legal-planet.org/2026/08/11/c...
legal-planet.org
Climate at SCOTUS, Electrification Victories, Media Moves - Legal Planet
The Supreme Court's first oral argument is a big climate case. The Drain is a roundup of environmental and climate news from Legal Planet.
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Evan George @evanlgeorge.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Wish we didn't need a climate playlist for wildfire days, but here it is, nearly 500 songs. legal-planet.org/2026/06/18/b...
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Think No One Writes Climate Songs? Here are 400 - Legal Planet
Just in time for summer, the Drain's Climate Playlist is now 30 hours of music with environmental themes from pop to folk to rap.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 16/07/2026
A new report has some unexpected implications of Biden’s climate policies. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/07/16/p...
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Pondering the Effects of Biden's Climate Policies - Legal Planet
A study of Biden's climate policies has important implications for where we should go after Trump.It may not be a replay of the IRA.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 16/07/2026
"It is past time for new, louder voices on behalf of wilderness, environment, public health – truly on behalf of America the Beautiful, before it simply isn’t," Ken Alex writes. legal-planet.org/2026/07/16/s...
legal-planet.org
Screaming in the Wilderness - Legal Planet
It is no surprise that, in the past couple of weeks, the Trump Administration has moved to gut habitat protection under the Endangered Species Act, opening wilderness areas to mining and oil drilling,...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 09/07/2026
The Trump Administration’s new ANTI-Precautionary principle says to use any uncertainty as an excuse to avoid regulating. @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/07/09/t...
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The Trump Administration’s New ANTI-Precautionary Principle - Legal Planet
The Trump Administration is a following a new Anti-Precautionary Principle: “Don't regulate without complete certainty.”
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 07/07/2026
The Ninth Circuit limiting EPCA preemption is a huge and important win for clean air, Cara Horowitz writes. @uclalawemmett.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/07/07/n...
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Ninth Circuit Upholds South Coast Zero-NOx Emission Standard for Appliances - Legal Planet
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals just limited EPCA preemption. The decision is a huge and important win for clean air.
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A Better Bay Area @sustainablebayarea.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
86ing Natural Gas in New Buildings–A new case from New York expands the power of state and local governments to mandate all-electric homes. A contrary case from California was poorly reasoned. The new decision… legal-planet.org/2026/07/06/8... @dfarber1950.bsky.social @legal-planet.org
legal-planet.org
86ing Natural Gas in New Buildings - Legal Planet
The Ninth Circuit mistakenly struck down new that a local ban on natural gas in new buildings. A new Second Circuit opinions get it right.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 06/07/2026
A new Second Circuit opinions empowers bans on fossil fuels in new buildings.
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A Better Bay Area @sustainablebayarea.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Jefferson, Adams, and the Environment—It wasn’t until the end of the 19th Century that the @sierraclub.org was founded, and environmentalism didn’t become a national force until the 1960s. But we tend to overlook… legal-planet.org/2026/07/02/j... @dfarber1950.bsky.social @legal-planet.org
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Jefferson, Adams, and the Environment - Legal Planet
The Founding Fathers were more environmentally aware than we give them credit for. Almost woke, even.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 02/07/2026
The Founding Fathers were more environmentally aware than we give them credit for. Woke, even! @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/07/02/j...
legal-planet.org
Jefferson, Adams, and the Environment - Legal Planet
The Founding Fathers were more environmentally aware than we give them credit for. Almost woke, even.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 29/06/2026
#1 in our new “Energy Corner” series from @uclalawemmett.bsky.social, a look at how California could design a rate structure for large load customers to join the electric grid without burdening ratepayers. legal-planet.org/2026/06/29/a...
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A Tariff on Data Centers Could Help Them Pay Their Fair Share - Legal Planet
California could design a rate structure for large load customers to join the electric grid without burdening ratepayers.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 29/06/2026
Trump disowned Project 2025 during the election. "In retrospect, it seems like he considered it too moderate." @dfarber1950.bsky.social legal-planet.org/2026/06/29/p...
legal-planet.org
Project 2025 Was Awful. Trump Has Been Worse. - Legal Planet
When the Heritage Foundation released Project 2025, there was a big hullabaloo, and Trump quickly disowned it.  Bad as it was, however,  it appears  Project 2025 apparently failed to anticipate the fu...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 29/06/2026
Chances are your state legislature is considering a bill to authorize plug-in solar panels for your balcony or backyard. legal-planet.org/2026/06/26/w...
legal-planet.org
Plug-In Solar Bills are Taking State Legislatures By Storm - Legal Planet
It’s worth taking notice when any clean energy legislation is passing with bipartisan support in all kinds of states. Bills on balcony solar, also called plug-in solar, have been signed or moved forwa...
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 25/06/2026
The Court held that FIFRA expressly preempts the state law failure-to-warn claims that have been brought against Monsanto for failing to warn Roundup users that glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) causes cancer. legal-planet.org/2026/06/25/t...
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The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Bayer - Legal Planet
Bayer wants to contain its vast, growing litigation exposure stemming from its best-selling product, Roundup. The Supreme Court just helped.
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Legal Planet @legal-planet.org · 25/06/2026
How has China has gone from climate action’s problem child to a promoter of clean energy? @dfarber1950.bsky.social has a timeline legal-planet.org/2026/06/25/c...
legal-planet.org
China’s Climate Policies: A Timeline - Legal Planet
Over the past 20 years, China has gone from climate action's problem child to the champion of clean energy.
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